Coast Guard Air Station Elizabeth City holds change of command ceremony

ELIZABETH CITY, N.C. — U.S. Coast Guard Air Station Elizabeth City bid farewell to Capt. Catherine Carabine and welcomed Capt. Brian Conley as the air station’s new commanding officer during a change of command ceremony held Friday.

Rear Adm. Zeita Merchant, commander of the Coast Guard East District, presided over the ceremony, which is a time-honored tradition representing the formal transfer of authority, responsibility, and accountability for a unit.

Carabine was assigned to Air Station Elizabeth City for three years, where she led approximately 300 personnel comprised of active duty, reserve, and civilian personnel, who operate a fleet of three MH-60 Jayhawk helicopters and five HC-130 Hercules fixed-wing aircraft. She will be heading to Norfolk, Virginia where she will become the new chief of staff for the Force Readiness Command.

“Serving alongside the crew of Air Station Elizabeth City has been the honor of my career,” said Carabine. She addressed the crew saying, “your dedication to lifesaving, maritime security, and service to our nation is unmatched. You are humble and selfless heroes who execute excellence every day. I’m deeply grateful to our local partners, Coast Guard Auxiliary, and community leaders whose support enables our mission every day.”

Conley reported to the air station after serving as the Response Division chief at Coast Guard Northwest District, where he previously acted as the Incident Management Branch chief. He also served as the executive officer at Air Station Elizabeth City, and was a rotary-wing aviation safety officer and assistant operations officer at Air Station Miami, a standardization instructor pilot and flight examiner at Aviation Training Center Mobile, and an Aviation Resources Division chief at the Office of Aviation Forces, where he oversaw program resources and an annual operating budget in excess of $450 million.

“I’m honored to return to Elizabeth City and lead this exceptional team,” Conley said. “I look forward to working closely with our local partners to advance safety, security, and readiness across the Atlantic region.”

Air Station Elizabeth City is one of the longest-serving aviation units in the Coast Guard, commissioned on August 15, 1940, and strategically positioned just north of Albemarle Sound. The air station sustains around-the-clock readiness for missions that safeguard mariners, protect the maritime economy, and secure the homeland—from long-range searches and medical evacuations to complex helicopter hoists and offshore rescues.

The unit’s reach extends from the Mid-Atlantic to the North Atlantic, Gulf waters, and trans-Atlantic routes, enabling rapid response to disasters and high-endurance patrols that deter illicit activity, enforce fisheries laws, and protect sensitive marine environments. With its deep operational history, broad geographic coverage, and modern aircraft, Air Station Elizabeth City delivers critical lifesaving capability, maritime security, and logistical support to the region and the nation.

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