ALAMEDA, Calif. – Coast Guard Base Alameda welcomed its new commanding officer during a change of command ceremony held on Coast Guard Island, Thursday, May 3.

Capt. Michael Woolard relieved Capt. Gary Spenik, who has served in Alameda since June 2011 when Coast Guard Base Alameda was known as Coast Guard Base Support Unit Alameda prior to being reorganized in 2012.

Woolard’s previous assignment was Executive Officer of Civil Engineering Unit Oakland, Calif. His first assignment was on the Coast Guard Cutter Chilua followed by the Coast Guard Cutter Steadfast. Other assignments include Training Center Petaluma, Integrated Deepwater System at Coast Guard Headquarters, Integrated Support Center Kodiak, Civil Engineering Unit Miami and Office of Engineering at Coast Guard Headquarters.  

Woolard graduated in 1990 from the United States Coast Guard Academy with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Civil Engineering. He went on to receive his Masters Degree in Civil Engineering in 1996 from the University of Illinois.

Spenik will be retiring after 27 years. His immediate plans are to spend time with his family while remaining in the Alameda area.

The change of command ceremony is a time-honored tradition, which formally restates that the continuity of command will be maintained. It is a formal ritual, conducted before the assembled company of command. It conveys to the officers, enlisted personnel, civilian employees, and auxiliary members of the Coast Guard that although the authority of command is relinquished by one person and is assumed by another, it is still maintained without interruption.

Base Alameda is located on Coast Guard Island in Alameda, Calif. Established Feb. 15, 2012, Base Alameda provides a wide variety of services in direct support of Coast Guard activities throughout the West Coast.  As with all Coast Guard units, a day in Base Alameda is like no other unit.  Every day colors are observed, galley meals are served, hundreds of vehicles are checked as they pass through the security gate, contracts and purchase orders are processed, maintenance work orders are done, port and base security are maintained, tons of materials are stored and moved in and out of the warehouse, industrial support and Maintenance Augmentation Teams are provided throughout the West Coast.

There are five departments and two units within Base Alameda.

Electronics Support Unit Alameda—Supports our operational partners by maximizing C4IT readiness through the installation, maintenance, and repair of Coast Guard standard C4IT systems, providing timely and comprehensive depot level support within District 11 area of operations.

Naval Engineering Support Unit Alameda—Provides hull, mechanical and electrical; ordinance maintenance augmentation to specific cutters; Industrial Support Activities; and Maintenance Augmentation Teams.

Facilities Engineering—Responsible for the maintenance and care of all CG Island Facilities, including both preventive and recurring unit level maintenance.  Ensures that facilities and utilities are adequate for over 2,100 tenants in regards to heating, air condition, and ventilation.  Manages safety and environmental programs including life safety issues and environmental compliance.

Personnel Support—Provides and manages support in Personnel Services, Decedent Affairs, Housing, Transportation, Education,  Morale, Recreation & Welfare, Child Development Center, and Temporary Duty Management.

Comptroller/Base Operations—Manages a 15.5 million dollar budget for all the Base services/operations, housing maintenance and shore energy accounts.  Provides security, emergency contingency preparations, and port services. 

Procurement & Contracting—Provides supplies, services, and construction contracting (<$150K) for its numerous customers under direction and guidance from the Base Commanding Officer and the Shore Infrastructure Logistics

Center (SILC)-Base Support.  Maintains Purchase Card program.

Health Safety & Work Life—Provides primary care medical, dental,  optical, acute care pharmacy, and specialty referral.  Assistance and training provided for Employee, Family, Special Needs, Transition, Career, and Health concerns.

SEATTLE — Coast Guard Capt. Marc P. Lebeau succeeded Capt. Robert J. Klapproth as commanding officer of Base Seattle during a change-of-command ceremony at the base, Thursday.

The change-of-command ceremony is a time-honored tradition and deeply rooted in Coast Guard and Naval history. The event signifies a total transfer of responsibility, authority and accountability for the command. The ceremony is attended by all members of the unit so they all witness the transfer of leadership.

Base Seattle provides support to more than 1,600 personnel located at 16 shore units and five cutters. Support services provided by the base include: Facilities Engineering, Personnel Support, Health Safety and Work Life, Naval Engineering Support, Electronic Systems Support, Comptroller, as well as Procurement and Contracting. The base falls under the command of Rear Adm. Richard T. Gromlich, the current Director of Operational Logistics.

For additional information, please contact the 13^th Coast Guard District Public Affairs Office at (206) 220-7237.

SEATTLE — Coast Guard Capt. Marc P. Lebeau succeeded Capt. Robert J. Klapproth as commanding officer of Base Seattle during a change-of-command ceremony at the base, Thursday.

The change-of-command ceremony is a time-honored tradition and deeply rooted in Coast Guard and Naval history. The event signifies a total transfer of responsibility, authority and accountability for the command. The ceremony is attended by all members of the unit so they all witness the transfer of leadership.

Base Seattle provides support to more than 1,600 personnel located at 16 shore units and five cutters. Support services provided by the base include: Facilities Engineering, Personnel Support, Health Safety and Work Life, Naval Engineering Support, Electronic Systems Support, Comptroller, as well as Procurement and Contracting. The base falls under the command of Rear Adm. Richard T. Gromlich, the current Director of Operational Logistics.

For additional information, please contact the 13^th Coast Guard District Public Affairs Office at (206) 220-7237.

WHO: Rear Adm. Christopher Colvin, deputy commander Pacific Area; Capt. Gary Spenik, commanding officer Base Support Unit Alameda; Lt. Cmdr. Thomas Remmers, commanding officer Naval Engineering Support Unit Alameda; Cmdr. Eric Rubio, commanding officer Electronics Support Unit Alameda and seven Pearl Harbor attack survivors

WHAT: Pearl Harbor Rembrance Ceremony commemorating the 70th anniversary of the tragedy that helped bring the United States of America into World War II. The ceremony will include:

• formal arrival of military veterans and senior officers of the Coast Guard in WWII era military vehicles
• a reading of a proclamation
• a reading of the founding of the association
• a ceremonial hanging of a wreath at 9:55 a.m. PST, as to designate the time the attacks started
• a 21-gun salute followed by taps.

WHEN: Wednesday, Dec. 7, 2011
           Military vehicles arrive 7:55 a.m.
           Pearl Harbor Remembrance Ceremony 9 a.m.
           ceremonial wreath hanging 9:55 a.m.

WHERE: Coast Guard Island
             Bldg. 4 Point Welcome Room
             Alameda, Calif. 94501

Media interested in attending are requested to RSVP with Petty Officer Levi Read (510) 437-3373 or (510) 316-4586. By doing this, it will aid your entrance onto the Coast Guard Base.

Note to editor’s: The Coast Guard will not be arranging interviews with the Pearl Harbor survivors. All interview request will be vetted through their families. We ask for your kindness and compassion on this subject because of the advanced age and unknown health of the Pearl Harbor survivors.

WHO: Rear Adm. Christopher Colvin, deputy commander Pacific Area; Capt. Gary Spenik, commanding officer Base Support Unit Alameda; Lt. Cmdr. Thomas Remmers, commanding officer Naval Engineering Support Unit Alameda; Cmdr. Eric Rubio, commanding officer Electronics Support Unit Alameda and seven Pearl Harbor attack survivors

WHAT: Pearl Harbor Rembrance Ceremony commemorating the 70th anniversary of the tragedy that helped bring the United States of America into World War II. The ceremony will include:

• formal arrival of military veterans and senior officers of the Coast Guard in WWII era military vehicles
• a reading of a proclamation
• a reading of the founding of the association
• a ceremonial hanging of a wreath at 9:55 a.m. PST, as to designate the time the attacks started
• a 21-gun salute followed by taps.

WHEN: Wednesday, Dec. 7, 2011
           Military vehicles arrive 7:55 a.m.
           Pearl Harbor Remembrance Ceremony 9 a.m.
           ceremonial wreath hanging 9:55 a.m.

WHERE: Coast Guard Island
             Bldg. 4 Point Welcome Room
             Alameda, Calif. 94501

Media interested in attending are requested to RSVP with Petty Officer Levi Read (510) 437-3373 or (510) 316-4586. By doing this, it will aid your entrance onto the Coast Guard Base.

Note to editor’s: The Coast Guard will not be arranging interviews with the Pearl Harbor survivors. All interview request will be vetted through their families. We ask for your kindness and compassion on this subject because of the advanced age and unknown health of the Pearl Harbor survivors.