PORT CLINTON, Ohio – U.S. Coast Guard Port Security Unit (PSU) 309 held a change of command ceremony Saturday in Port Clinton.
Capt. Jason Ryan, chief of Coast Guard Pacific Area operations, presided over the ceremony where Cmdr. Kristopher Nolan relieved Cmdr. Todd Remusat as PSU 309's commanding officer.
Remusat served as PSU 309's commanding officer from June 2021 to September 2024. Under his command, he led 150 personnel, ensuring reserve unit readiness for worldwide and domestic deployments. Remusat was assigned to a 15-month mobilization as the deputy commandant for mission support, COVID-19 crisis action team at Coast Guard Headquarters in Washington, D.C., leading pandemic response efforts supporting the workforce of 50,000 personnel before and during his tenure as PSU 309's commanding officer.
"The PSU 309 crew's achievements over the past three years are a testament to the power of teamwork, cohesion, and dedication to overcome the many challenges despite limited time and resources to improve our readiness," said Remusat. "As our service navigates various challenges, the reserve component must cultivate leaders who are willing to take warranted and calculated risks that drive progress. This strategy not only enhances our readiness but also creates an environment where innovation can flourish while steering clear of the pitfalls that come with unnecessary risks."
Nolan served as the senior reserve officer at Sector Lake Michigan in Milwaukee before taking command of PSU 309. His prior assignments include joint operations staff at the North American Aerospace Defense Command/U.S. Northern Command in Colorado Springs, Colorado, operations officer at PSU 307 in Clearwater, Florida, senior reserve officer at Sector Field Office in Grand Haven, Michigan, and previously served as a division officer at PSU 309. In his career, Nolan has been deployed to support many natural disaster responses, most notably Hurricanes Irma and Maria in 2017.
Port Security Units are deployable specialized forces that are utilized for expeditionary operations spanning the globe responding within 96 hours of notification. PSUs provide land and waterborne security for shipping lanes and critical port infrastructure in support of the United States and other NATO nations along with humanitarian operations.
PSU 309 was commissioned in the Ninth District on June 18, 1995. It is one of eight PSUs, and like its counterparts, it is comprised primarily of reservists with a few full-time active-duty staff members. The unit has been recalled to active duty for supporting critical overseas operations in theatre, including Operation Enduring Freedom, and recently pioneered the first-ever embarked security team detachment supporting maritime national security with U.S. Indo-Pacific Command.
PSU 309 was recognized in June 2024 as the Category 2 recipient of the Rear Admiral Bennet "Bud" Sparks Award for superior operational readiness and excellence. This is the first time a PSU has been selected for this prestigious award in over 30 years.
The change of command ceremony was held in front of PSU 309 service members, family members, and guests. The ceremony is a time-honored tradition that signifies the peaceful transfer of responsibility from one commanding officer to another. It symbolizes an acknowledgment of respect for authority, which is vital to both military organizations and the freedom for which our country stands. The ceremony represents more than just the relief of one commanding officer by another; it also symbolizes the transfer of absolute authority and the responsibilities of a military unit of the United States and its assigned missions.
For further information regarding PSU 309 missions and opportunities to join the unit, please contact Lt. Cmdr. Andrew Siwarski at (419) 635-4462.
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