Coast Guard Capt. Joseph Loring was set to take charge as the new Sector Maryland-National Capital Region commander and captain of the port during a change of command ceremony Friday in Baltimore.
Since the current sector commander’s arrival in 2015, the sector has been involved in the rescue of 380 lives, inspection of 3,300 commercial vessels and coordination of response to 670 oil sighting reports.
Capt. Lonnie Harrison, the outgoing sector commander, is retiring after 27 years of service.
Harrison assumed command of Sector Maryland-National Capital Region in 2015 and leads operational forces in the execution and coordination of all maritime safety, security and environmental missions for the Maryland and National Capital Region. He also serves as the captain of the port, federal on scene coordinator, federal maritime security coordinator, officer in charge of marine inspections, and search and rescue mission coordinator.
Loring is presently serving at the Chief of the Office of Marine Environmental Response Policy at Coast Guard headquarters in Washington D.C., and is slated to assume command of Sector Maryland-National Capital Region.