HONOLULU — The U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Midgett (WMSL 757) held a change of command ceremony, Friday, on Coast Guard Base Honolulu.
Vice Adm. Andrew Tiongson, commander of U.S. Coast Guard Pacific Area, presided over the ceremony in which Capt. Brian Whisler relieved Capt. Matthew Rooney as Midgett’s commanding officer.
Rooney served as Midgett’s commanding officer from July 2023 to May 2025. Under Rooney’s leadership, Midgett deployed to the Bering Sea , North Pacific and Oceania in support of domestic and illegal, unregulated, unreported fisheries and building international partnerships.
The summer of 2024 saw Midgett serve as the Coast Guard’s primary naval asset in the Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC) exercise, the world’s largest international naval exercise. Rooney’s leadership guided Midgett through a diverse array of missions, encompassing national defense readiness, humanitarian aid operations, and disaster relief efforts.
Following RIMPAC, Midgett deployed to Oceania where its presence and activities directly supported Operation Blue Pacific — the U.S. integrated strategy for the Pacific Islands. Under Rooney’s leadership, Midgett’s engagements with Tuvalu, New Zealand, Australia and Papua New Guinea reinforced existing relationships and built new ones, contributing to a more secure and prosperous Pacific.
“It has been a privilege to serve with the crew of the Midgett, especially during this final tour at sea,” said Rooney. “Seeing their hard work pay off, from the Bering Sea to deployments across the Pacific, has been truly gratifying. I know the Midgett will continue to do great things for our nation. I'll always cherish my time afloat, and it has been an honor to be part of such a dedicated team."
Whisler reports to Midgett after serving as the Senior Special Assistant to the Commandant of the Coast Guard in Washington, D.C. Whisler previously commanded the Coast Guard Cutter Alex Haley (WMEC 39) and the Coast Guard Cutter Blackfin (WPB 87317).
Rooney departs Midgett to serve as Director of the Commandant’s Advisory Group in Washington, D.C.
The change of command ceremony is a time-honored tradition and formal ritual conducted before the assembled company of a command to confirm to the unit’s men and women that the authority of command is maintained. The ceremony is a transfer of total responsibility, authority, and accountability from one individual to another.
Commissioned in 2019, Midgett is one of two Coast Guard Legend-class national security cutters homeported in Honolulu. National security cutters are 418-feet long, 54-feet wide and has a top speed in excess of 28 knots, a range of 12,000 nautical miles, endurance of up to 90 days and can hold a crew of up to 170. The advanced technologies of the national security cutter class ships are designed to support the national objective to maintain the security of America’s maritime boundaries and provide long range search and rescue capabilities.
Midgett is the second cutter named after the Midgett family, many of whom served in the U.S. Coast Guard, U.S. Life Saving Service and other predecessor life-saving services.