Change of Command

MARBLEHEAD — The U.S. Coast Guard Marblehead Station had a double ceremony recently at the U.S. Lifesaving Station Museum in Marblehead.The stations commanding officer for the last four years, CWO3 Chris Gempp retired. Captain Scott LeMaster, commander of U.S.C.G. Sector Detroit, who presided over the ceremony, pointed out a few statistics of Gempp's term. The Marblehead station conducted 951 search and rescue missions and accounted for 11 percent of the DUI citations issued nationwide by the Coast Guard with a 100 percent conviction rate.The more than two-hour ceremony continued with the change of command from Gempp to CWO2 Bethany Kittrell. Kittrell is from Columbus, spent much of her time around the Marblehead area and was married at the Marblehead Lighthouse.More than 75 Coast Guard personnel from Michigan, Georgia, North Carolina plus friends and family from all over the country attended the ceremony. Station Marblehead's 45 foot response boat idled offshore during the ceremony until it received a call.During the ceremony, Gempp inspected his troops for the final time and received the flag from his executive officer CWO2 Mike Jorgensen.CWO3 Chris Gempp, retiring Commanding Officer for Station Marblehead U.S.C.G. inspects his troops for the final time before the change of command at the Marblehead Lifesaving Station recently.The Marblehead Station of the U.S. Coast Guard crew prepare for formation before the ceremony of the change of command recently at the Marblehead Lifesaving Station.CWO3 Chris Gempp received the flag from his executive officer CWO2 Mike Jorgensen during the change of command ceremony at the Marblehead Lifesaving Station recently.U.S.Coast Guard Marblehead Station's new Commanding Officer CWO2 Bethany Kittrell gives her acceptance speech at the change of command ceremony recently at the Marblehead Lifesaving Station in Marblehead recently.