Coast Guard Capt. Brian Penoyer transferred command of Sector Houston-Galveston to Capt. Peter Martin during a change-of-command ceremony Friday at the Bayport Cruise Terminal near Houston.
Martin assumed command of Sector Houston-Galveston and responsibility as Captain of the Port for operations along the Gulf of Mexico coastline from Lake Charles, Louisiana, to the Colorado River in Matagorda, Texas. This extensive area of responsibility includes 10 units and eight cutters between Texas City, Galveston, Port Arthur, Freeport, Sabine and the entirety of the Houston Ship Channel.
Penoyer was responsible for the Coast Guard's response to many significant incidents in his area of responsibility such as the Texas City "Y" oil spill in 2014 and the Morgan's Point Collision in 2015. He will be the chief of staff at the Coast Guard's 14th District in Honolulu, Hawaii, for his next tour.
Martin received his commission following an academic career at the State University of New York, College at Oswego and holds a Master of Marine Affairs degree from the University of Washington's School of Marine and Environmental Affairs and previously served at the Coast Guard Office of Search and Rescue in Washington D.C.
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.