Photo By Petty Officer 1st Class Tara Molle | Rear Adm. Vincent Atkins, commander, Coast Guard 14th District, addresses attendees...... read more read more
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HONOLULU — Master Chief Christopher Windnagle was relieved by Master Chief Petty Officer Edward Lewis as command master chief Coast Guard 14th District during a change of watch ceremony at Coast Guard Base Honolulu, Wednesday.
Rear Adm. Vincent B. Atkins, commander for the Coast Guard 14th District, presided over the ceremony. The change-of-watch ceremony is a time-honored event preserved by rich heritage of naval tradition. It is a formal custom that is designed to strengthen the respect of authority, which is vital to any military organization, and transfer responsibility of the command. This also provides the entire command with the knowledge that the member directed by proper authority is taking command and is an opportunity to witness this transfer of responsibility.
The change-of-watch also included a retirement ceremony for Windnagle.
“I feel very fortunate to have spent nearly 32 years in the world’s greatest Coast Guard,” said Windnagle. After close to 30 years of aviation service and being operational my entire career, I had the good fortune to be selected as the senior enlisted leader for the entire South Pacific.”
A native of Sandusky, Mich., Windnagle served as the command master chief whose primary responsibility was to advise the admiral on issues and initiatives pertaining to all Coast Guard members and their families within the 12.2 million square mile area of responsibility extending from the Hawaiian Islands to Japan.
Prior to reporting to the Coast Guard 14th District, Windnagle served at Coast Guard Air Station Kodiak, Alaska, Coast Guard Air Station Astoria, Ore., Coast Guard Air Station Sitka, Alaska, Coast Guard Aviation Training Center Mobile, Ala., and the USCGC Mackinaw (WAGB 83), in Cheboygan, Mich.
He has qualified on the HH-65A Dolphin, the HH-3F Pelican and the HH-60J Jayhawk helicopters. Windnagle also served as a maintenance chief for both Air Station Astoria and Air Station Kodiak’s H-60 helicopter maintenance divisions and the leading chief for Kodiak’s H-65 Alaskan patrol division. As the command master chief of Air Station Kodiak he led the chief’s mess of 40 chief’s and more than 100 chiefs of the Kodiak Island unified mess as chief of the mess.
Windnagle holds a bachelor’s degree from Purdue University in West Lafayette, Ind., where he graduated with honors earning a Bachelor of Science Degree in aviation technology with a minor in management. He also earned an associate degree in general studies from Clatsop Community College in Astoria.
Windnagle is the recipient of the Coast Guard Meritorious Service Medal, two Coast Guard Commendation Medals, three Coast Guard Achievement Medals and three Coast Guard Commandant Letter of Commendation’s.
He married his wife Deanna in 1985. Together they have three children, Heather, Matthew and Megan and five grandsons; Zachary, Kenneth, Brandyn, Charlie and Christopher.
| Date Taken: | 06.01.2016 |
| Date Posted: | 06.02.2016 19:50 |
| Story ID: | 199804 |
| Location: | HONOLULU , HAWAII, US |
| Hometown: | SANDUSKY, MICHIGAN, US |
| Web Views: | 300 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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