AGUADILLA, Puerto Rico — Coast Guard Air Station Borinquen celebrated their change of command at the Base Borinquen aircraft hangar, Wednesday.
In the ceremony, Capt. Jeffrey P. Owens relieved Capt. Lawrence D. Gaillard as Air Station Borinquen’s commanding officer before unit members, aviators, shipmates, partner agency representatives, family and friends, who witnessed the formal transfer of command authority from one commanding officer to the next.
Capt. Willie L. Carmichael, Seventh Coast Guard District chief of staff, presided over the ceremony in which he presented Gaillard with the Coast Guard Meritorious Service Medal (gold star in lieu of a third award) recognizing his achievements during the three-year tour.
Under Gaillard’s leadership, Air Station Borinquen achieved extraordinary success in executing 5,400 flight hours, encompassing 423 Search and Rescue missions with 1,088 lives saved, or assisted. His decisive leadership enabled the successful completion of 49 law enforcement cases, resulting in the interdiction of 729 undocumented aliens and the seizure of 51 million dollars in illegal narcotics.
“I am humbled and grateful for the opportunity that I have had to serve as the commanding officer of Air Station Borinquen and to serve our fellow U.S. citizens in Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands,” said Capt. Lawrence Gaillard. “Our mission is extremely rewarding and it has truly been a privilege. I am grateful for the incredible experience that 'La Isla del Encanto' has been for me and my family. I have been blessed to have had the opportunity to serve here multiple times, and it will forever have a place in our hearts. We are thrilled to welcome Capt. Owens and his family, and know they will be an outstanding addition to our Borinquen community.”
Meanwhile, Owens reports to Coast Guard Air Station Borinquen after serving as the U.S. Coast Guard Attaché to Tokyo, Japan. As commanding officer of Air Station Borinquen, Owens will be responsible for aviation search and rescue and law enforcement missions throughout the Eastern Caribbean spanning 1.3 million square miles.
Owens served as the Air Station Operations Officer at Air Station Houston, Texas, responsible for directing all aviation operations and managing risk for three MH-65E helicopters and nine Auxiliary aircraft. During his tour, Owens hosted 25 aircraft and 50 transient crews in response to four major hurricanes. He developed joint training and readiness standards and orchestrated state and federal large-scale exercises for active-duty forces, state search and rescue organizations, and government agencies.
Owens was designated a military aviator in January 2006 and has amassed over 2,500 flight hours flying the MH-65 aircraft. He is credited with over 220 search and rescue cases, resulting in over 115 persons saved or assisted.
Originally from Rapid City, South Dakota, Owens is a 2002 graduate of the U.S. Coast Guard Academy in New London, Connecticut, earning a bachelor of science in Operations Research. He holds a Master’s degree in Computer Science from the College of William and Mary.
Gaillard is now headed to Coast Guard Headquarters in Washington D.C., where he will serve as the executive assistant to the Commandant of the U.S. Coast Guard.
The change of command ceremony is a time-honored event preserved by the rich heritage of naval tradition. This formal military protocol provides the entire command with the knowledge and opportunity to witness the peaceful transition of command that is vital to any military organization. The culmination of the ceremony takes place when both officers read their orders, face one another, salute, and transfer responsibility of command.
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