NAVAL SUPPORT ACTIVITY, Bahrain — In a change of command ceremony Monday, Capt. David "Lee" Petty relieved Capt. Robert Hendrickson as commanding officer of Coast Guard Patrol Forces Southwest Asia aboard Naval Support Activity in Bahrain.
Vice Adm. William “Dean” Lee, Coast Guard Atlantic Area commander presided over the ceremony.
Hendrickson praised his Coast Guard crew for their outstanding achievements and professionalism during his tour.
“Your professionalism and patriotism have impressed me every single day since my arrival,” said Hendrickson. “For all of that, I am profoundly grateful. For the opportunity to serve with such outstanding Coast Guard men and women, I am profoundly humble. You have set the bar for work ethic, conduct and military bearing within the Central Command and Naval Forces Central Command areas of responsibility. Keep her so.”
Hendrickson, a native of Cleveland, Ohio, has served as commanding officer since November, 2013. His next assignment will be as commanding officer of the Coast Guard Cutter Waesche in Alameda, California.
Petty is a native of Circleville, Ohio, and recently served as the Coast Guard liaison to the Director of Surface Warfare, at the Pentagon in Arlington, Virginia.
The change of command ceremony is a time-honored tradition which formally restates the continuity of command will be maintained and is a formal ritual conducted before the assembled company of command. It conveys to the officers, enlisted members, civilian employees and auxiliary members of the Coast Guard that although the authority of command is relinquished by a leader and is assumed by another, it is still maintained without interruption.
PATFORSWA is the Coast Guard's largest unit outside of the continental U.S. and has played a key role in maritime security and maritime infrastructure protection operations with NAVCENT. PATFORSWA is comprised of six 110-foot Island Class cutters, shore side support personnel, Redeployment Assistance and Inspection Detachment, Advanced Interdiction teams, Middle East Training Team, and other deployable specialized forces operating throughout the CENTCOM area of responsibility.
