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PHILADELPHIA — Coast Guard Sector Delaware Bay bid farewell to Capt. Kate Higgins-Bloom and welcomed Capt. Roberto Rivera as the new sector commander during a change of command ceremony held at the Independence Seaport Museum in Philadelphia, Thursday.
Rear Adm. Zeita Merchant, commander of the Coast Guard East District, presided over the ceremony, a time-honored military tradition that represents the formal transfer of authority, responsibility, and accountability from one commanding officer to another.
Higgins-Bloom served as the commander of Sector Delaware Bay since June 2023. During her tenure, she led the sector through numerous maritime safety, security, environmental protection, and search and rescue operations while strengthening partnerships with federal, state, local, and industry stakeholders throughout the Delaware Bay region.
Following the ceremony, Higgins-Bloom will report to Coast Guard Headquarters to serve as the Force Design Implementation Team Leader.
Rivera assumed command after serving as the deputy commander of Sector Delaware Bay. Prior to that assignment, he served as the chief of the Industry Preparedness and Incident Coordination Division at Coast Guard Headquarters, where he oversaw national-level preparedness and incident coordination initiatives.
Sector Delaware Bay includes more than 815 active-duty, reserve, and civilian personnel, approximately 2,100 Coast Guard Auxiliary volunteers, and 11 Coast Guard field units. The sector is responsible for all Coast Guard missions across much of Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and all of Delaware, extending 200 miles offshore.
The sector safeguards a marine transportation system that contributes more than $141 billion annually to the regional economy while executing missions including search and rescue, marine safety, maritime security, environmental protection, and law enforcement. Working alongside federal, state, local, tribal, and industry partners, Sector Delaware Bay remains committed to ensuring the safety, security, and resilience of one of the nation's busiest maritime regions.
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