The Alternative Press

Sector New York Personnel:

732 Active Duty

77 Civilians

321 Reservists (4% of total Coast Guard Reserve force)

200 auxiliarists (operating over 300 boats and 16 aircraft)

 

Sector New York is the largest Coast Guard operational field command on the East Coast. The main staff is located at historic Fort Wadsworth on Staten Island, New York. The Coast Guard is responsible for operations from Sandy Hook north, through the Port of New York and New Jersey, continuing up the Hudson River to just south of Lake Champlain, and up the East River to the Long Island Sound/Connecticut border.

 

On Tuesday, June 13th, 2012 Gordon Loebel, (my son’s roommate at the University of Miami), participated in a Change of Command ceremony at Sector New York. A time honored tradition formally restating the continuity of the authority of command, this formal ritual conducted before the assembled company of command, as well as honored guests, family, and friends is a Change of Command where a transfer of total responsibility and authority move from one individual to another.

 

On June 13, 2012 Rear Admiral Linda L. Fagen gave up her command to Captain Gordon Loebl.

 

A native of Highland Park, Illinois, Captain Loebl graduated from the University of Miami, then U.S. Coast Guard Officer Candidate School in Yorktown, Virginia. From there he reported onboard USCGC Morgenthau in Alameda, California where he served as deck watch officer for two years.

 

In 1989, Captain Loebl reported to Marine Inspection Office New York, where he began his Marine Safety Career as an apprentice Marine Inspector. He conducted safety inspections of commercial vessels throughout the tri-state area: Europe, Africa, and the Middle East during Operation Desert Shield.

 

In 1991, he reported to Marine Safety Office Honolulu where he served as a Marine Inspector, Domestic Inspection Branch Chief, and Assistant Senior Investigating Officer.

 

After graduating from the University of Virginia in 1997 with a Master of Marine Affairs degree, he reported to Coast Guard Headquarters, Office of Investigations & Analysis. Assisting with the development and implementation of the Cost Guard’s comprehensive Marine Safety improvement Plan which included establishing and leading seven National Centers of Expertise across the country. He also served as Executive Assistant to the Federal On Scene Coordinator in New Orleans, Louisiana, for the Deepwater Horizon response effort. In addition to many personal awards, including three Meritorious Service Medals, and two Coast Guard Commendation Medals, he received the Department of Transportation 9/11 Medal.

 

We’re lucky to have Captain Gordon Loebl watching out for all of us.

 

What actually transpires at The Port of New York/New Jersey:

 

* Total estimated value of cargo-$176 Billion (2011)

* 6.752 deep draft commercial ship arrivals

* 1st in nation for petroleum product movement

* 1st in nation for domestic/foreign imports combined

* 3rd largest U.S. port for containerized cargo

* 3rd largest Passenger Ferry service in the world

* 3rd largest Cruise Ship port in the U.S.

 

In 2011, transported:

* 85 million tons of general and bulk cargo

* 5.5 million twenty-foot equivalent units of containerized cargo (15,058 containers per day)

* 561,965 vehicles

* Distributed to 89-90 million consumers in a 10- contiguous state area (35% of U.S. population.