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AST helm changes hands

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Tara A. Williamson
  • Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst Public Affairs
JOINT BASE MCGUIRE-DIX-LAKEHURST, N.J. --  The men and women of the Atlantic Strike Team assembled in their hangar to welcome the newest member of their team during a change of command ceremony here July 29.

Family, service members and community partners watched as Cmdr. Tedd B. Hutley assumed command from Cmdr. Eric Doucette.

"During this tour I draw upon all your personal and professional skills like never before as you assume absolute responsibility of the Atlantic Strike Team," said Rear Adm. Pat DeQuattro, Coast Guard Atlantic Area deputy commander and the ceremony's presiding officer.

Atlantic Strike Team members celebrate the unit's 25th anniversary at the installation this year. Over the last quarter century, the team has built a reputation within the Coast Guard for responding to the call of duty and accomplishing the missions at hand.

Hutley stated more than half of his service has been in the National Strike Force. "(Throughout my career), I realized something. I realized the majority of my major Strike Team deployments have been Atlantic Strike Team cases or cases where the AST was the 'home team.'"

Hutley served as the executive officer of the Gulf Strike Team in Mobile, Alabama, prior to his assignment here. He hails from Sequim, Washington, and is a graduate of Hawaii Pacific University with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Marine Science. He was commissioned into the Coast Guard April 1, 2000, through the Coast Guard's Direct Commission Officer Program.

Before reading his orders and leaving his command role, Doucette took a moment to thank the team he has led for the past three years, "If I knew all the locations this crew would travel and all the accomplishments they would achieve, I would have qualified it as too ambitious. But this incredible team was amazing, I'm so very proud of each and every member of the Atlantic Strike Team. Semper paratus."

Doucette was awarded the Meritorious Service Medal, gold star device, for his leadership of the ATS from July 2012 through 2015, before handing over the reins.

He first enlisted in the U.S. Coast Guard Reserve in 1989 and graduated from Officer Candidate School in 1993. He has been selected for reassignment to the Homeland Security Institute to serve as a senior military fellow.

Doucette had some last advice for Hutley as he paused with a grin.

"Service songs. You'll have to be able to sing Semper Paratus solo as your crew members are Googling the lyrics," he said, drawing a laugh from the crowd.

Hutley, in his new role, now leads a unit recognized worldwide as an expert authority in the preparation for and response to the effects resulting from oil discharges, hazardous substance releases, weapons of mass destruction events, and other emergencies on behalf of the American public.

"To the members of the Atlantic Strike Team, I make this commitment to you - I will uphold my position as a commanding officer through Honor, Respect and Devotion to Duty," Hutley promised. "In return, I ask that you do the same in all of your duties, and at all times. Together, we will proudly represent the Coast Guard as the Atlantic Strike Team and continue to serve others as the world's best responders."