Editors note: Members of the media are welcome to attend the change-of-command ceremony. Please contact Petty Officer 1st Class Sondra-Kay Kneen at 310-521-4267 or 310-781-0619 for more information.
LOS ANGELES — Coast Guard Cutter Halibut, homeported in Marina Del Rey will receive a new commanding officer during a change-of-command ceremony Wednesday at 10 a.m.
The change-of-command ceremony will be located at 13871 Fiji Way, Marina Del Rey, CA 90292. The ceremony is intended to recognize Lt. Ryan M. Fox, who has served as the cutter’s commanding officer for the last two years. Lt. jg. James M. Hurtt will officially take command of the ship Wednesday during the ceremony from Fox, who will be attending Law School at the University of Miami next year and will complete a follow on tour as a Coast Guard JAG Officer at the Coast Guard District Seven’s legal office in Miami.
"Assuming command of Halibut will always be among my most cherished memories,” said Fox. “The challenges we overcame and the achievements we shared are a testament to the high caliber crew members that have served aboard. I am confident that the same successes will be prevalent as the new Commanding Officer takes over."
Fox took command of Halibut in July 2013. Since that time, the crew provided boarding team members during numerous interdictions of significant amounts of narcotics and paraphernalia and assisted in the termination of a fishing vessel grossly negligent of safety violations. The crew of Halibut also enacted the first ever implementation of Operation Agua Caliente. Members of a Homeland Security Investigation team met the cutter and conducted at-sea interrogations and discussed the possibilities of conducting a controlled landing through the use of a panga. This unique case and Halibut’s exceptional team orientated attitude offered multiple agencies the opportunities to work seamlessly paving the way for future interdictions and routine operations.
During a search-and-rescue case, Halibut was diverted near Gaviota Beach. After a three hour transit in to 4-to-6 -foot seas, Halibut arrived on scene and located a missing kayaker who had been at sea for more than 14 hours. The rescue and assistance team was deployed and the member was safely brought back aboard. The cutter’s emergency medical technician provided first aid to the hypothermic kayaker. During Fox’s command, the Halibut was also able to complete an $800k depot level maintenance in Alameda, and complete a total exterior preservation from bow to stern, including the much needed mast and superstructure.
Halibut will be Hurtt’s first command afloat. He has also served as a Weapon’s officer, Deck Watch Officer, Electronics Material Officer and Boarding Officer aboard the Coast Guard Cutter Thetis, homeported in Key West, Fla. After leaving the Thetis, Hurtt transferred to Manama, Bahrain to serve as the Executive Officer aboard the Coast Guard Cutter Adak, one of the six forward-deployed Coast Guard patrol boats supporting Operation Enduring freedom.