Change of Command for Coast Guard Cutter Abbie Burgess

Fron the Coast Guard:

Release Date: July 25, 2007



Cutter Captain Bids Farewell

ROCKLAND, Maine - The Coast Guard Cutter Abbie Burgess will hold a change of command ceremony 11 a.m., Friday,(July 27, 2007) at the Coast Guard Pier here.

Chief Warrant Officer Thomas J. Svejcar will relieve Chief Warrant Officer Paul Dilger as commanding officer of the 175-foot buoy tender. Svejcar is reporting from Coast Guard Cutter Hickory, homeported in Homer, Ala. Svejcar has been stationed aboard 10 different cutters; the Abbie Burgess will be his second assignment as commanding officer.

Dilger is retiring after serving aboard 10 Coast Guard cutters during his 27 years of sea time and has been commanding officer of Abbie Burgess since July 2003. He has been honored with numerous awards throughout his career, including the meritorious service medal, four commandant letters of commendation and several meritorious and unit commendations.

A change of command ceremony is a formal ceremony conducted before the assembled personnel of the command, and it confirms to the men and women of the unit that total responsibility, authority and accountability is transferred from one individual to another.

"My definition of mission success: 27 year, 10 ships and bringing the crew and ship home safely, everytime," said Dilger reflecting on his Coast Guard career.