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| Capt. Brian Penoyer salutes Rear Adm. Kevin Cook, commander of the 8th Coast Guard District, during a change of command ceremony at the Bay Area Community Center in Clear Lake, Texas, June 14, 2013. Capt. James Whitehead was relieved by Penoyer. (U.S. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 2nd Class Stephen Lehmann) | A Coast Guard color guard takes up their positions during a change of command ceremony at the Bay Area Community Center in Clear Lake, Texas, June 14, 2013. Capt. James Whitehead was relieved by Capt. Brian Penoyer. (U.S. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 2nd Class Stephen Lehmann) |
HOUSTON — A new commander over Coast Guard units in the Houston-Galveston area and Captain of the Port in those areas relieved his predecessor Friday during a change-of-command ceremony in Clear Lake.
Capt. Brian Penoyer relieved Capt. James Whitehead, who is retiring from the Coast Guard after 26 years of service
As the commanding officer of Sector Houston-Galveston, Penoyer will oversee multi-mission operations from maritime homeland security to maritime environmental response.
Prior to assuming command of Sector Houston-Galveston, Penoyer was a U.S. Coast Guard fellow at the Center for Strategic and International Studies. A specialist in coastal operations and a designated Coast Guard marine safety professional, he was also assigned as acting chief of congressional and governmental affairs, where he was responsible for all Coast Guard engagement with Congress, and with state, tribal, and local elected officials.