U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary Division 16 conducted its annual change of watch ceremony on December 2nd, installing new officers effective January 1, 2025. During the event, incoming Division Commander Tom Mattingly relieved A. Wayne Early who has served as Division Commander for the past year. Auxiliary District Commodore (elect) Jim Thomas spoke at the event, which was also attended by Air Station Elizabeth City Commanding Officer Capt. Catherine Carabine and Station Oregon Inlet XPO Chief Adam Preiser.
Commander Mattingly previously served as Flotilla Commander for Outer Banks flotilla 16-07. As Division Commander, he will provide primary leadership and supervision to the Division with responsibility to ensure that the Division carries out its primary mission of assisting local flotillas in the Outer Banks and Elizabeth City with increasing boating safety awareness while supporting local Coast Guard air and sea operations.
Tom is a U.S. Navy veteran and holds Coast Guard Auxiliary Coxswain, Boat Crew, Vessel Examiner, Instructor, and FEMA Incident Command System certifications. “This is an amazing Division with a rich history of serving the Eastern North Carolina recreational boating community, and our local U.S. Coast Guard Gold Team partners,” said Mattingly. “Wayne did an outstanding job leading the Division over the past two years and our plan is definitely to build on that success by increasing our outreach activities, supporting the Coast Guard, and expanding on-the-water time with our newly refurbished utility boat – definitely be looking for us, we’ll be out there!”
Early, who has previously held Division and District positions, will continue to serve the Coast Guard Auxiliary as Immediate Past Division Commander, and as District Staff Officer for Communications. “It has been an honor to serve as the commanding officer of Division 16 these past two years,” said Early. “The Division excelled at every mission we were tasked with. I could not be more proud of the impact the flotillas and their members have had in carrying out our objectives. Even with the challenge of restarting after the COVID-19 pandemic, the flotillas have answered the call and were always ready. I am thrilled to be relieved by Tom whom I have known for many years. I know he will lead this talented crew to future success.”
Other new Division 16 staff officers include Vice Division Commander Dave Meister, SO-Information Services Anne Van Landingham, SO-Navigation Systems Steve Kreisher, SO-Operations Milo Hyde and SO-Publications Greg South.
The change-of-watch ceremony is a historic military tradition representing the formal transfer of authority and responsibility for a unit from one commanding officer to another. The event reinforces the continuity of command and provides an opportunity to recognize the flotilla’s accomplishments.
The Coast Guard Auxiliary is the uniformed civilian component of the U.S. Coast Guard and supports the Coast Guard in nearly all mission areas. The Auxiliary was created by Congress in 1939. For more information about a boating course near you or to learn more about water safety or becoming one of America’s Volunteer Lifesavers, please visit our website www.cgauxobx.org
