SAN DIEGO — The U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Active (WMEC 618) and crew held a change of command ceremony, Sunday, in San Diego.
Cmdr. Earl Potter relieved Cmdr. Adam Disque as Active’s 31st commanding officer during the ceremony. Rear Adm. Joanna Hiigel, deputy commander for Coast Guard Pacific Area, presided over the ceremony.
Disque served as Active’s commanding officer from June 2023 to June 2025. Under Disque’s leadership, Active conducted six deployments along the West Coast from Washington State to Nicaragua in support of Operation Pacific Guardian and Operation Martillo in the Eastern Pacific Ocean. Under his leadership, Active participated in District 11’s Operation Baja Tempested, a cooperative interagency network aimed at stopping illegal immigration via the U.S.-Mexico Pacific maritime boundary line. Assigned as On-Scene Tactical Coordinator for all responding Coast Guard assets, Active directed interagency efforts that resulted in seven interdictions leading to the apprehension of 108 illegal alien migrants.
During his tenure, the crew apprehended nearly 5,000 kg of cocaine worth over $141 million and apprehended 16 narcotics smugglers. Additionally, during a patrol supporting living and marine resources off the coast of Oregon and Washington, Active exceeded boarding targets with 41 high priority boardings completed and eight violations detected. Notably the meticulous boardings procedures revealed a larger conspiracy case to secretly offload catch ashore which was prosecuted by the Washington Department of Fishing and Wildlife, as well as the arrest and transfer for crewmember with high risk wants and warrants.
Disque will report to his next assignment at the Naval War College in Newport, R.I.
“Serving on a cutter is always an adventure with a variety of challenges at every step,” said Disque. “Active's crew met those challenges head on, time and time again. I am grateful for the opportunity to serve with a crew of dedicated professionals. It was an honor, and I will miss the many adventures at sea.”
Potter reports to the Active from the Secretary of Defense Fellowship Program as the fellow for the Alaska Air Group. He is a career sea-going officer and has spent nine of his eighteen-year career at sea. Potter previously commanded the Coast Guard Cutter Robert Yered (WPC-1104) and the Coast Guard Cutter Maui (WPB-1304).
Commissioned in 1966, and homeported in Port Angeles, Wash., the Active, known as “The Li’l Tough Guy,” is the only medium endurance cutter on the West Coast and is the oldest of all the Pacific Area major cutters. The service's medium endurance cutter fleet supports all the Coast Guard’s law enforcement, living marine resource, and search and rescue missions.