District 13 Change of Command

By Daren Lewis

Shipmates,
Today I had the honor of representing the Division at the District 13 Change of Command. Rear Admiral Keith Taylor relieved Rear Admiral Gary Blore as our District Commander. The Auxiliary was repeatedly recognized as a key component of District 13's success.

SEATTLE - Coast Guard Rear Adm. Keith A. Taylor(Left), relieves Rear Adm. Gary T. Blore(Right), of command of the Thirteenth Coast Guard District during a ceremony at Pier 36 in Seattle, July 12, 2011. The change-of-command ceremony was presided over by Vice Adm. Manson K. Brown, Coast Guard Pacific Area Commander. U.S. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 3rd Class Nathan W. Bradshaw

I look forward to working to help implement Rear Admiral Taylor's intent and direction in next few years.

I'd ask that over the next few days you take a moment to read Rear Admiral Blore's biography. It is a testament to the quality of the leaders our service produces.

Rear Admiral Gary T. Blore serves as the Commander of the Thirteenth Coast Guard District headquartered in Seattle, Washington. As District Commander, Rear Admiral Blore is responsible for U.S. Coast Guard operations covering 4 states, more than 4,400 miles of coastline, 600 miles of inland waterways, and a 125 mile international border with Canada. Prior to this assignment, Rear Admiral Blore served as the Assistant Commandant for Acquisition and Chief Acquisition Officer.

Rear Admiral Blore is currently designated as the U.S. Coast Guard’s Ancient Albatross and holds the distinction as the longest serving aviator in the service.

A 1975 graduate of the U.S. Coast Guard Academy, Rear Admiral Blore initially served aboard the medium endurance cutter Venturous. In 1976, he commenced flight training at Naval Air Station Pensacola, Fla., and was designated a Coast Guard Aviator. From 1977 until 1982, he served as a helicopter aircraft commander at Coast Guard Air Station Brooklyn, N.Y., deploying frequently aboard cutters in the Caribbean. During that tour, he participated in the U.S. response to the Cuban Refugee Crisis of 1980. After a subsequent tour as a Program Reviewer and Budget Analyst for the Coast Guard Chief of Staff at Coast Guard Headquarters in Washington, D.C., he transitioned to Coast Guard "Guardian" fan-jets in 1988 and served as an aircraft commander at Coast Guard Air Station Cape Cod, Mass. While there, Rear Admiral Blore deployed as executive officer of a 28-member aviation detachment to Manama, Bahrain, during Operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm. In 1992, Rear Admiral Blore became the Group Operations Officer and then Deputy Group Commander for Coast Guard Group and Air Station, Corpus Christi, Texas. Following that assignment, he was selected to attend the Air War College, in Montgomery, Ala., where he studied national security issues. In 1997, he assumed command of Group/Air Station Astoria, Ore., where he directed Coast Guard air and motor lifeboat operations along the Oregon and Washington coast. Following a three-year command tour, Rear Admiral Blore returned to Coast Guard Headquarters in July 2000 for assignment as Chief, Office of Aviation Forces, with programmatic oversight for all 30 of the Coast Guard’s air stations and facilities. From July 2002 to July 2004, Rear Admiral Blore served as the Coast Guard's Chief, Office of Budget and Programs for the Assistant Commandant for Planning, Resources and Procurement. He was responsible for formulation, justification, and programmatic execution of a $7 billion budget, Coast Guard policy review, and coordination of external outreach. Upon promotion to flag rank in September 2004, Rear Admiral Blore served as Special Assistant to the President. In that capacity, he was the Homeland Security Council’s Senior Director for Border and Transportation Security. Rear Admiral Blore is a DHS Level 3 certified Acquisition Program Manager and holds a Bachelor of Science degree in economics, with honors, from the U.S. Coast Guard Academy. He also has a master's degree in public policy and administration from Columbia University, where he was selected as an International Fellow. His personal decorations include the Distinguished Service Medal, five awards of the Legion of Merit, two Meritorious Service Medals, two Coast Guard Commendation Medals and the Transportation 9-11 Medal, as well as other service and campaign awards.

He has been a outstanding leader and a constant supporter of the Auxiliary. On a personal note he, and his wife Vera, have been my hosts on a number of occasions and have been gracious and friendly shipmates.

Fair winds and following seas to Rear Admiral Blore and Vera.

Very respectfully,
Daren