Date: June 29, 2005

Contact: Lt. Ryan Matson
(713) 578-3034

AIR STATION HOUSTON GETS NEW COMMANDING OFFICER

HOUSTON - A change of command ceremony is scheduled for the commanding officer of Coast Guard Air Station Houston today at 10 a.m., here at Ellington Field.

During the formal ceremony, Cmdr. Richard Kenin will be relieved as the commanding officer of Air Station Houston by Cmdr. Norman Schweizer.

Presiding over the ceremony will be Rear Adm. Robert Duncan, Commander of the Eighth District.

Air Station Houston provides search and rescue (SAR) assistance from the Colorado River to White Lake in Louisiana, responding to over 150 SAR cases annually.  In addition, the Air Station regularly conducts homeland security and law enforcement missions.  It is home to approximately 100 Coast Guard men and women as well as four HH-65B Dolphin helicopters.

The event will take place at 1178 Ellington Field in Houston.

MEDIA NOTE: Media is invited to attend and must arrive no later than 9:45 a.m. Biographies are available upon request. For more information and to confirm attendance, please contact Lt. Ryan Matson at (713) 578-3034.

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