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SAVANNAH, Ga. — A change of command ceremony was held at Coast Guard Air Station Savannah Thursday.
Cmdr. Gregory Fuller, commanding officer of Air Station Savannah, relinquished command to Cmdr. John Rivers during a time-honored military tradition that formally recognizes full transfer of responsibility, authority and accountability from one individual to another.
Fuller said he thoroughly enjoyed his time in Savannah and was always in awe of the patriotism displayed by members of the community.
Rivers said Savannah was his first pick and pledged to uphold the legacy created by Fuller and to continue providing the crew with the necessary tools, training, support and guidance to continue excelling at the mission.
Rivers graduated from the Coast Guard Academy in 1994 with a Bachelor of Science in Government. He is a 2009 graduate of the Naval War College Command and Staff College, where he earned a Master of Arts in Strategic Studies. He also holds a Master of Science in Instructional Systems Design from the University of South Alabama and a Certificate in Aviation Safety Management from the University of Southern California. His full biography, including his awards and previous units, is available here.
Rivers arrived from Air Station Houston and assumed the responsibilities and authorities of commanding officer of Air Station Savannah, including the administration and direction of all unit operations, flights, and activities.
Fuller, who has been in command of Air Station Savannah since June 2012, will continue his service at The Naval War College in Providence, Rhode Island.
Since 1963, Air Station Savannah has provided the Atlantic Coast with search and rescue coverage 24-hours a day, 365-days a year. Coverage spans from the northern border of South Carolina to Melbourne, Florida. The crew of Air Station Savannah and its air facility in Charleston, South Carolina, average more than 200 search and rescue cases annually, saving or assisting approximately 90 people.