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CLEVELAND — The Coast Guard held a change-of-command ceremony for its 9th District, which spans the five Great Lakes, the St. Lawrence Seaway and parts of the surrounding states, at the Cleveland Marriott Downtown at Key Center Wednesday afternoon.
Vice Adm. William "Dean" Lee, Coast Guard Atlantic Area commander, presided over the ceremony to transfer command of the 9th District from Rear Adm. Fred Midgette to Rear Adm. June Ryan.
Midgette assumed command of the 9th District in June 2013 and is now reporting to Coast Guard Headquarters to fill the position of special flag assistant to the vice commandant.
Ryan reports to the 9th District from her position as the military advisor to the secretary of Homeland Security.
During her speech, Ryan made several references to the three tenets she said will guide her leadership of the 9th District. Her tenets are to honor the member, honor the mariner and honor the memory.
Headquartered in Cleveland, 9th District units are responsible for all Coast Guard operations throughout the five Great Lakes, the St. Lawrence Seaway and parts of the surrounding states including 6,700 miles of shoreline and 1,500 miles of the international border with Canada. The 6,000 active-duty, Reserve, civilian and Auxiliary men and women deliver multi-mission services in search and rescue, maritime safety and security, environmental protection, maritime law enforcement, aids to navigation, and icebreaking.