Rear Adm. Richard Gromlich, commander, Coast Guard 13th District, addresses attendees during a change-of-watch ceremony at Coast Guard Base Seattle Dec. 18, 2015.
During the ceremony, Master Chief Petty Officer Charles Lindsey transferred authority as command master chief of the Coast Guard 13th District to Master Chief Petty Officer Sean McPhilamy, who reported from his prior position as command master chief of Coast Guard Base Kodiak, Alaska.
U.S. Coast Guard photo by Seaman Sarah Wilson.
Master Chief Petty Officer Charles Lindsey, former command master chief for the Coast Guard 13th District, salutes Rear Adm. Richard Gromlich, commander, Coast Guard 13th District, as Lindsey transfers command authority to Master Chief Petty Officer Sean McPhilamy at a change-of-watch ceremony at Coast Guard Base Seattle Dec. 18, 2015.
As the command master chief, McPhilamy will serve as the senior enlisted advisor to the 13th District commander for all Coast Guard missions in the Pacific Northwest region of Washington, Oregon, Idaho and Montana. U.S. Coast Guard photo by Seaman Sarah Wilson.
Master Chief Petty Officer Charles Lindsey, former command master chief for the Coast Guard 13th District, holds back tears as he reflects on his 23-year-long Coast Guard career during a change-of-watch and retirement ceremony at Coast Guard Base Seattle Dec. 18, 2015.
Lindsey is retiring to Florida with his wife, Leslie, and their two sons Keygan and Bosun. U.S. Coast Guard photo by Seaman Sarah Wilson.
Maser Chief Petty Officer Sean McPhilamy, on-coming command master chief for Coast Guard 13th District, Maser Chief Petty Officer Charles Lindsey, off-going command master chief, Master Chief Petty Officer of the Coast Guard Steven Cantrell and Rear Adm. Richard Gromlich, commander, 13th district, bow their heads during the change-of-watch invocation at Coast Guard Base Seattle, Dec. 18, 2015.
Command master chiefs are designated by either the Commandant of the Coast Guard or the Master Chief Petty Officer of the Coast Guard, and are located at each area, each district, both maintenance and logistics commands, headquarters, academy and the Deployable Operations Group.
U.S. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 3rd Class Amanda Norcross.
Senior Chief Petty Officer Ryan Cooney, a machinery technician at Air Station Port Angeles, Wash., hands a folded American flag to Master Chief Petty Officer Charles Lindsey in an Old Glory presentation during Lindsey’s retirement ceremony at Coast Guard Base Seattle, Dec. 18, 2015.
The flag passing is commonly held during retirement ceremonies and consist of members passing the flag down a line, starting with the lowest ranking participant to the highest, as the Old Glory text is read out loud.
U.S. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 3rd Class Amanda Norcross.
A Coast Guard combination cover adorned with the master chief rank device sits on a podium after a change-of-watch and retirement ceremony were held for Master Chief Petty Officer Charles Lindsey, former command master chief of the Coast Guard 13th District, at Coast Guard Base Seattle, Dec. 18, 2015.
The command master chief petty officer is the most senior enlisted Coast Guard member at a unit and acts as the primary liaison between commissioned officers and enlisted members.
U.S. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 3rd Class Amanda Norcross.