SAN DIEGO — Coast Guard Maritime Security Response Team West hosted a change-of-command ceremony in San Diego, July 9, 2025.
Coast Guard Capt. James J. Camp relieved Capt. Robert J. Berry as the commanding officer during the ceremony.
Vice Adm. Andrew Tiongson, commander, U.S. Coast Guard Pacific Area, presided over the time-honored military tradition, which represents a formal transfer of authority and responsibility for a unit from one commanding officer to another.
Berry assumed command of MSRT West in July 2022. Under Berry’s leadership, the unit deployed globally supporting Special Operations Command Pacific initiatives in the Indo-Pacific region, conducted border security operations with DHS partners, and enhanced public safety at numerous national events. In addition, Regional Dive Lockers under his command recovered the remains of five fallen American service members who were killed in action during conflicts in Vietnam, Korea, and Papua New Guinea and later repatriated to the United States.
Camp transferred to MSRT West from PATFORSWA as the Commanding Officer. He previously served as the executive officer at MSRT West from June 2022 to January 2024.
Berry will report to his next assignment as the executive assistant for the Deputy Commandant for Operations.
MSRT West is the Coast Guard’s short-notice maritime response and counter-terrorism unit on the west coast with personnel capable of conducting maritime threat response as part of a Coast Guard or interagency adaptive force package. MSRTs are capable of engaging in maritime security and law enforcement operations to support homeland security and defense missions at home or aboard. The members of this ready-assault force are trained in maritime security, law enforcement boarding procedures, force protection and environmental hazards response within a tactical law enforcement operation.
MSRT West’s command includes all three Coast Guard Regional Dive Lockers (RDL) - RDL Pacific is located in Honolulu, RDL West is co-located with MSRT West in San Diego and RDL East is located in Portsmouth, Virginia.
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