The U.S. Coast Guard is making it a family affair for the commanders in charge of two major Coast Guard stations along the Oregon coast.
Master Chief Scott Slade assumed command of U.S. Coast Guard Station Coos Bay from his wife, Chief Warrant Officer Beth Slade during a ceremony Friday at the rescue station in Charleston.
Beth Slade is scheduled to assume command of Coast Guard Station Yaquina Bay in Newport later this month.
Scott Slade will oversee the operations of the 45 crew members stationed at the rescue boat unit in Charleston and also oversee Station Coquille River, a seasonal station in Bandon. He was previously in charge of the Coast Guard’s station at Winchester Bay.
“They are an amazing crew,” said Beth Slade. “And this was probably the easiest change of command since we are both so familiar with everyone and they already know their new commanding officer. I’m glad to be handing off such a top-notch crew because I fully believe they are at their best right now.”
Both Beth and Scott Slade enlisted in the Coast Guard nearly 25 years ago. Almost all of their time in the Coast Guard has been spent at units on either the Oregon or Washington coasts.
The Slade’s honed their boat-handling skills in the Pacific Northwest, trained at the National Motor Lifeboat School at Cape Disappointment and received the title of Surfman, #321 and #324 respectively. Beth Slade was commissioned as an officer in 2013.
“It’s so special to be taking over the crew from my wife,” said Scott Slade. “The expectation is high and the crew is ready. It’s amazing what Beth has done and built here. Sort of intimidating taking over after someone who is so squared away but I am so excited to see what the future has to offer.”
A Coast Guard rescue unit has been present in the Coos Bay area since 1878 when the first life-saving station was located at Cape Arago.
The change of command ceremony is a time-honored military tradition that marks a transfer of total responsibility and authority from one individual to another. The ceremony is conducted to formally demonstrate the continuity of authority within a U.S. military command.