Chief Warrant Officer Jonathan Placido, commanding officer, Coast Guard Cutter Bluebell and his relief Chief Warrant Officer Christopher Boss, inspect the crew members of the Bluebell during a change of command ceremony in Portland, Ore., Aug. 14, 2015.
The change of command ceremony is a time-honored tradition that formally restates the continuity of command.
U.S. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 3rd Class Jonathan Klingenberg.
Rear Adm. Richard Gromlich, commander, Coast Guard District 13, presents the Coast Guard Commendation Medal to Chief Warrant Officer Jonathan Placido, commanding officer, Coast Guard Cutter Bluebell, during a change of command ceremony in Portland, Ore., Aug. 14, 2015.
Placido has served more than 30 years in the Coast Guard.
U.S. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 3rd Class Jonathan Klingenberg.
Chief Warrant Officer Christopher Boss relieved Chief Warrant Officer Jonathan Placido as commanding officer of the Coast Guard Cutter Bluebell during a change of command ceremony in Portland, Ore., Aug. 14, 2015.
Placido will be retiring with his family in Rainier, Wash.
U.S. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 3rd Class Jonathan Klingenberg.
WARRENTON, Ore. — Chief Warrant Officer Christopher Boss relieved Chief Warrant Officer Jonathan Placido as commanding officer of the Coast Guard Cutter Bluebell in Portland, Ore., Friday.Boss’ previous assignment was as the executive officer aboard the Coast Guard Cutter George Cobb, a 175-foot buoy tender home-ported in Long Beach Calif., which serviced 78 floating aids to navigation along the California coast, including the major ports of San Francisco, Los Angeles and Long Beach, and San Diego. Placido will be retiring in Rainier, Wash., where he and his family manage a pasture and subsistence based family farm.The Coast Guard Cutter Bluebell is one of only two 100 foot Inland Buoy Tenders currently in service in the Coast Guard. The ship was built by the Birchfield Boiler Co. in Tacoma, Washington in September 28, 1944 and was commissioned April 4, 1945. The cutter is currently home ported in Portland, Oregon. Her primary mission is servicing aids to navigation in an area of responsibility covering 500 river miles. The Bluebell crew consists of 15 active duty Coast Guard members.The Bluebell is second in line for the title “Queen of the Fleet,” which would designate it as the oldest commissioned cutter in service.