PORT ANGELES — Gov. Jay Inslee and U.S. Rep. Derek Kilmer are expected to attend an invitation-only change of command ceremony at the Port Angeles Coast Guard station Wednesday.
Unlike previous change of command ceremonies, this one is not open to the public, the Coast Guard said. It did not explain why.
Capt. Keith P. McTigue will transfer command to Cmdr. Andrew W. Eriks during the 11 a.m. ceremony at the Ediz Hook base, which is officially Coast Guard Air Station/Sector Field Office Port Angeles.
Rear Adm. Richard Gromlich, commander of the 13th Coast Guard District, will preside over the ceremony.
Eriks will become the 40th commanding officer of the Port Angeles base.
He grew up in Seattle and joined the Coast Guard in 1984.
He has served as an officer for 20 years at stations across the nation, including Astoria, Ore.; Washington, D.C.; and Elizabeth City, N.C.
McTigue, who is originally from Shelton in Mason County, took over command of the Port Angeles station from Capt. Richard A. “Tony” Hahn two years ago.
Prior to his appointment, he served as deputy group commander and air station executive officer at Group-Air Station North Bend, Ore., where he oversaw Coast Guard operations and personnel management in central and southern Oregon.
Governor’s visit
Inslee, who recently visited Neah Bay, will make other stops in the Port Angeles area while he is here, said his press office, although his itinerary was not ready as of this weekend.
“Other stops are being arranged,” said Jaime Smith, director media relations for the governor.
Inslee has not held any scheduled meetings in Port Angeles since he was elected to the post in 2012.
Kilmer, D-Gig Harbor, represents the 6th Congressional District, which includes Clallam and Jefferson counties.
The Port Angeles Coast Guard station is a dual-mission unit with operational and support activities in an area that includes the Strait of Juan de Fuca and the northwest coast of Washington around the Olympic Peninsula to the mouth of Puget Sound.
