Fifth Coast Guard District holds change-of-command ceremony

Photo By Petty Officer 2nd Class Ryan Noel | Rear Adm. Shannon Gilreath (Left), Vice Admiral Nathan Moore, commander of Coast Guard Atlantic Area, (Center), and Rear Adm. John “Jay” Vann (Right) pose for a group photo during the Fifth District change-of-command ceremony held at Coast Guard Base Portsmouth, Virginia, June 26, 2024. Vann, as commander of the Fifth District, will serve as the operational commander for all Coast Guard missions from the North Carolina-South Carolina border to New Jersey, encompassing nearly 5,600 Coast Guard active duty, Reserve, and civilian personnel and spanning 1.4 million square miles of oceans, bays, and rivers. (U.S. Coast Guard Photo by Petty Officer 2nd Class Ryan L. Noel)  

VIRGINIA, UNITED STATES

06.26.2024

Story by Petty Officer 2nd Class Ryan Noel 

U.S. Coast Guard District 5   

PORTSMOUTH, Va. — Rear Adm. John “Jay” Vann assumed the duties and responsibilities of the Fifth Coast Guard District from Rear Adm. Shannon Gilreath, Wednesday at Coast Guard Base Portsmouth.

Vice Admiral Nathan Moore, commander of Coast Guard Atlantic Area, presided over the ceremony.

Vann, as commander of the Fifth District, will serve as the operational commander for all Coast Guard missions from the North Carolina-South Carolina border to New Jersey, encompassing nearly 5,600 Coast Guard active duty, Reserve, and civilian personnel and spanning 1.4 million square miles of oceans, bays, and rivers. The 5th District also includes several mid-Atlantic ports, the largest U.S. Naval base in the world, and the Capital region.

Prior to assuming command of the Fifth District, Vann most recently served as the commander of Coast Guard Cyber Command, in Washington, D.C., where he was responsible for conducting cyberspace operations in support of Coast Guard, Department of Homeland Security, and Department of Defense mission objectives.

Gilreath served as the Fifth District commander since 2022 and oversaw Coast Guard response operations throughout the region, including response efforts to oil spills, search and rescue cases and numerous critical marine transportation issues. He will go on to assume the role of Coast Guard Assistant Commandant for Capabilities which he will be responsible for identifying and providing capabilities, competencies, and capacity along with service-wide policy for the staffing, training, equipping, and employing Coast Guard forces to meet mission requirements.

• Date Taken: 06.26.2024
• Date Posted: 06.26.2024 14:45
• Story ID: 474919
• Location: VIRGINIA, US