CAPE MAY– The Coast Guard Cutter Dependable is scheduled to hold a change of command ceremony at Coast Guard Training Center Cape May in Cape May, Wednesday at 11 a.m.
Cmdr. Laura M. Dickey will turn over command of the cutter to Cmdr. George Lesher.
Dickey has served as the Dependable’s commanding officer since June 14, 2007. During this period, she led the crew through seven deployments throughout the North Atlantic and Caribbean, conducted over 135 maritime law enforcement boardings, halted the illegal fishing operations of six vessels, interdicted or monitored 249 illegal migrants and directed 15 search and rescue operations. Her new assignment will be in Washington, D.C., as the Coast Guard’s liaison to the U.S. Senate.
Lesher previously served as the executive officer of the pre-commissioning crew for the Coast Guard Cutter Waesche in Alameda, Calif. Lesher is a native of Schaefferstown, Pa.
The change of command ceremony is a time honored military tradition signifying the transfer of total responsibility, authority and accountability from one commanding officer to another.
The Dependable is a 210-foot Medium Endurance Cutter based out of Cape May with 75 crew members.
