New commanding officer of Coast Guard Cutter in Santa Barbara

Source: United States Coast Guard

(SAN PEDRO, CA) — The Coast Guard Cutter Blackfin (WPB 87317) received a new commanding officer during a change-of-command ceremony in Santa Barbara, Friday.

Lt. Edward Kalankiewicz,  commanding officer of the cutter Blackfin, relinquished command to Lt. j.g. Alex Oswald during a time-honored military tradition that formally transfers and ensures the continuity of command. 

Oswald reports to the Blackfin from his previous tour serving as the operations officer aboard the Coast Guard Cutter Maui (WPB 1304), a 110- foot patrol boat, one of six forward deployed U.S. Coast guard patrol boats supporting Operation Enduring Freedom in the Arabian Gulf.

The Coast Guard Cutter Blackfin is a Marine Protector Class coastal patrol cutter and is home-ported in Santa Barbara. The Blackfin shares the name of the USS Blackfin (SS-322) a submarine that participated in World War II and the Korean War.