THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Thursday, June 6, 1996 TAG: 9606060359
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B1 EDITION: NORTH CAROLINA
SOURCE: STAFF REPORT
DATELINE: ELIZABETH CITY LENGTH: 72 lines
A native North Carolinian will officially take the helm of the U.S. Coast Guard Aircraft Repair and Supply Center here on Friday morning.
Capt. Joseph A. Walker Jr., who was born in Charlotte, will become commanding officer at a change-of-command ceremony at 10 a.m. at the unit's repair hangar, Building 79.
Walker replaces Capt. Charles S. Harris, who took charge of the repair and supply center in 1993. Walker is the center's 18th commanding officer since 1947.
Friday's ceremony will begin with a formation and arrival honors, followed by Posting of the Colors and the national anthem.
The Rev. Josh T. MacKenzie will give an invocation. After the inspection of military personnel, Rear Adm. Edward J. Barrett, chief of systems at Coast Guard headquarters in Washington, D.C., will deliver official remarks.
After the change of command, Chaplain William Blain of the Coast Guard Support Center will give a benediction. The ceremony will end with Retirement of the Colors.
The aircraft repair center was conceived in 1945 and commissioned two years later at the Coast Guard base just outside the Elizabeth City limits.
The center overhauls and modifies aircraft and associated equipment. It also stores, issues and delivers aircraft parts, supplies and aeronautical equipment.
In addition, the center also provides technical support in the engineering and avionics fields for all Coast Guard aviation.
The center has 31 officers, 110 enlisted personnel and 466 civilian employees.
Walker, who enlisted in the Coast Guard in 1967 and became an officer in 1972, has been the H-60 product line evaluator at the center's Aeronautical Engineering Division for the past year.
During his career, Walker has served at air stations in Houston, Savannah, Ga., New Orleans, San Diego and Humboldt Bay, Calif. He also has worked at Coast Guard Headquarters.
Walker received a master of science degree in 1984 from Purdue University's Krannert Graduate School of Management.
He is married to the former Bobbi Collins of Oceanside, Calif. The couple has five children and eight grandchildren.
Harris, originally from Maine, graduated from the Coast Guard Academy in 1971. He served on the Boston-based cutter Bibb and participated in ocean station operations in the North Atlantic before becoming a pilot in 1973.
Harris worked at air stations in San Francisco and San Diego and in 1981 earned a master of science degree in industrial administration from Purdue.
After graduation, Harris was stationed at the aircraft repair center in Elizabeth City before being assigned to Coast Guard Headquarters in Washington.
In 1989, he graduated from the Defense System Management College in Fort Belvoir, Va.
Harris returned to Elizabeth City in 1990 and took over as commanding officer of the aircraft repair center in 1993.
He will return to Coast Guard Headquarters to become the chief of Coast Guard aviation engineering.
Harris is married to the former Marlayne Sutton of Stafford, Va. The couple has four children and two grandchildren. by CNB