*** Media interested in attending the ceremony are requested to arrive at 1 U.S. Coast Guard Training Center, Yorktown, VA 23690, no later than 12:30 p.m. ***
YORKTOWN, Va. — The Coast Guard is scheduled to hold a change-of-command ceremony Friday at 1 p.m. for the Coast Guard Force Readiness Command (FORCECOM) at Coast Guard Training Center Yorktown in Yorktown. Rear Adm. Scott Buschman will relinquish command to Rear Adm. David Throop during a time-honored military tradition. A military unit's change of command is a transfer of total responsibility, authority and accountability from one individual to another. Prior to this assignment, Throop served as the executive assistant to the commandant of the Coast Guard. As the principal advisor to the commandant, he coordinated alignment of strategy, policy, resources and outreach. From 2013 to 2014, he was the executive assistant to the vice commandant. Between 2010 and 2013, he was the commanding officer of Coast Guard Air Station Cape Cod, Massachusetts, providing aviation support to the Coast Guard 1st District, as well as logistics support and base services to more than 38 Coast Guard and Department of Defense commands in Southeastern New England. Throop, a native of Burton, Michigan, graduated in 1985 from the U.S. Coast Guard Academy in New London, Connecticut, with a Bachelor of Science degree in Civil Engineering. He received a Master's degree in public administration from the John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University in 1998 and a Master of Arts degree in National Security and Strategic Studies from the Naval War College in 2005. Throop's personal awards include a Legion of Merit, five Meritorious Service Medals with operational device, a Coast Guard Commendation Medal, an Army Commendation Medal, an Air Force Commendation Medal, a Coast Guard Achievement Medal and various unit and service commendations. He has accumulated more than 3,900 flight hours and has an FAA commercial pilot's license in both fixed-wing and rotary-wing aircraft as well as certifications in the Falcon 20 and a multi-engine instrument rating. Buschman, a native of Peterborough, New Hampshire, reported as commander Coast Guard Force Readiness Command in May of 2013 and will relieve Rear Adm. John Korn as commander of the Coast Guard 7th District. His personal military awards include three Legions of Merit, five Meritorious Service Medals, three Coast Guard Commendation medals, a Dept. of Transportation 9/11 Medal, a Coast Guard Achievement Medal and a Commandant's Letter of Commendation as well as various service and unit awards. FORCECOM is responsible for optimizing human performance throughout the Coast Guard's workforce. The command enhances mission execution by providing clear tactics, techniques, procedures, relevant training, quality assessments and exercise support. This continuous human performance cycle enables FORCECOM to prepare Coast Guardsmen to carry out the service's mission of ensuring safety, security and stewardship of the nation's waters.