Office of External Affairs
U.S. Coast Guard

Date: July 24, 2008

Contact:  Lt. j.g. Joseph Smith

(314)-704-9546

COAST GUARD SECTOR UPPER MISSISSIPPI RIVER TO HOLD CHANGE OF COMMAND 

WHAT: Change of command ceremony for Sector Upper Mississippi River

WHO: Capt. Sharon Richey will be relieved by Capt. Steve Hudson

WHERE: Missouri Athletic Club, 405 Washington Ave, St. Louis, Mo.

WHEN: July 25, 2008 at 10 a.m. (Media members are asked to arrive by 9:45 a.m.)

ST. LOUIS - Coast Guard Capt. Sharon Richey will transfer command of Coast Guard Sector Upper Mississippi River to Capt. Steve Hudson in a chage-of-command ceremony at the Missouri Athletic Club, Friday, June 25, at 10 a.m.

Richey has served as commanding officer of Sector Upper Mississippi River since July 21, 2006.  Rear Adm. Joel R. Whitehead, commander of the Eighth Coast Guard District, is scheduled to preside over the event.

Sector Upper Mississippi River's area of responsibility is the largest of any Sector in the lower 48 states, covering Wyoming, Colorado, North Dakota, South Dakota, Nebraska, Kansas, and Iowa, as well as parts of Missouri, Minnesota, Wisconsin, and Illinois. It encompasses over 2,000 miles of navigable rivers and 1,800 miles of tributary waterways including the Missouri, Illinois and Upper Mississippi Rivers.  The Sector's area of responsibility includes 33 locks and dams, 238 bridges, and 7 major population centers. Sector personnel administer a large number of programs in support of the Commandant's mission statement goals of Maritime Safety, Maritime Mobility, Maritime Security, National Defense, and Environmental Protection.

Captain Hudson is reporting from 17th Coast Guard District in Alaska where he served as Chief of Prevention and was responsible responsible for marine safety, waterways management and the USCG Auxiliary in Alaska, including direct supervision 6 Buoy Tenders, and 6 Loran Stations.

Following the change-of-command ceremony, a retirement ceremony for Richey will be conducted.

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U.S. Coast Guard - Saving lives since 1790