Commander Daniel McLaughlin relieved Commander Robert Tarantino as Commanding Officer of CGC SPENCER during a ceremony held on board CGC SPENCER, Boston on July 6.

The change of command ceremony is a time-honored tradition aboard military ships and shore commands. It represents a total transfer of responsibility, authority and accountability from one individual to another. The core of this event is the formal passing of command in the presence of the entire crew, leaving no doubt as to who has assumed the mantle of authority.

McLaughlin, as commanding officer of CGC SPENCER, will be responsible for the 270 foot cutter and carrying out all assigned missions, which include homeland security, search and rescue, federal fisheries enforcement, alien migration interdiction, counter-drug enforcement and national defense.

McLaughlin is a 1985 graduate of McIntosh High School and a 1989 graduate of the United States Coast Guard Academy in New London, Conn. He holds a bachelor of science degree in civil engineering from the Coast Guard Academy and a Master of Science in Naval Architecture and Marine Engineering from the University of Michigan.

His initial afloat assignment was as Student engineer, damage control assistant, and deck watch officer aboard USCGC SPENCER (WMEC 905) from 1989 to 1991. Subsequent afloat assignments include tours as engineer officer aboard USCGC FORWARD (WMEC 911) home ported in Portsmouth, Va. from 1996 to 1999; and as executive officer aboard USCGC HARRIET LANE (WMEC 903), also home ported in Portsmouth, Va. from 2002 to 2004.

Assignments ashore include three separate tours in Washington D.C. as Naval Engineering Policy and Procedures Liaison, Office of Engineering, Coast Guard Headquarters from 1991 to 1994; Engineering Assignment Officer, Coast Guard Personnel Command from 1999 to 2002; and most recently as the Surface Deputy Program Manager to the Integrated Deepwater System Program.

Following landfall of Hurricane Katrina, McLaughlin served as the Saint Bernard Parish Liaison at the Area Field Office in New Orleans, La. in support of the Principal Federal Official for Hurricane Katrina.

login to post comments