ALAMEDA, Calif. - A change-of-command ceremony, in which Capt. Mark A. Frankford assumed the duties and responsibilities as commanding officer of cutter Bertholf from Capt. Thomas E. Crabbs, took place aboard the cutter Bertholf at Coast Guard Island, Friday.
Capt. Frankford is a Coast Guard Academy graduate, class of 1988. His previous assignments include seven underway tours, the service’s oldest cutter, U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Acushnet, where he served as the last commanding officer until its decommissioning in 2011. Frankford reports to Bertholf from the Pentagon, where he served as Coast Guard Liaison Officer and Chief of the Homeland Defense and Theater Security Division (J-34) on the Joint Staff.
Capt. Crabbs, a 1987 graduate of Coast Guard Officer Candidate School, completes seven afloat tours, including three commanding officer assignments. During his tenure aboard Bertholf the cutter seized 2,300 kilograms of contraband during their Joint Interagency Task Force (JIATF) patrol in 2011; participated in the world’s largest naval exercise, Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC) 2012, as commander of a six-ship Surface Action Group in RIMPAC 2012. Bertholf was also the first National Security Cutter to deploy above the Arctic Circle in the summer of 2012 in support of Operation Arctic Shield.
Capt. Thomas E. Crabbs shakes the hand of Capt. Mark A. Frankford during a change of command ceremony while aboard the Coast Guard Cutter Bertholf, home-ported on Coast Guard Island in Alameda, Calif., Friday, March 15, 2013. Frankford assumed the duties and responsibilities from Crabbs as commanding officer of Bertholf. U.S. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 3rd Class Loumania Stewart
Capt. Thomas E. Crabbs conducts a personnel inspection of the crew aboard the Coast Guard Cutter Bertholf during a change of command ceremony held at Coast Guard Island in Alameda, Calif., Friday, March 15, 2013. Capt. Mark A. Frankford assumed the duties and responsibilities as commanding officer of the Bertholf from Crabbs. U.S. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 3rd Class Loumania Stewart
Coast Guard Vice Adm. Paul Zukunft, Pacific Area commander, speaks to guests in attendance during the Coast Guard Cutter Bertholf's change of command ceremony held at Coast Guard Island in Alameda, Calif., Friday, March 15, 2013. During the time-honored naval tradition, Capt. Thomas E. Crabbs was relieved of command by Capt. Mark A. Frankford. U.S. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 2nd Class Barry Bena