The Modern Coast Guard

San Diego, July 30, 2014       U.S. Coast Guard Sector San Diego welcomed a new commanding officer during a change-of-command ceremony held on base Wednesday morning. 

Capt. Jonathan S. Spaner assumed command responsibilities from Capt. Sean M. Mahoney as commander of Sector San Diego and San Diego Captain of the Port. The ceremony was presided over by Rear Adm. Joseph Servidio, Commander of the 11th Coast Guard District.

After more than 27 years of active duty service in the Coast Guard, Mahoney officially retired after the change of command.

Spaner reports to Sector San Diego from Washington, D.C., where he served as Director of the U.S. Coast Guard’s Office of Emerging Policy. In this role he was responsible for development of strategy on major issues including the Arctic, Western Hemisphere affairs, cyber security, and climate change.

Captain Spaner was previously director of the Coast Guard’s office of emerging policy in Washington, DC.  He is responsible for development of strategy on major issues including the Arctic, Western Hemisphere affairs, cyber security, and climate change.  Moreover, on behalf of the U.S. Department of State, Captain Spaner is Head of the U.S. Delegation to the Arctic Council’s Task Force on a Circumpolar Business Forum.

He served as Commanding Officer of Air Station Traverse City, Michigan with responsibility for HH-65C helicopter operations in the Great Lakes and Caribbean regions.  Captain Spaner has held senior pilot ratings in the C-130 and HH-60 aircraft during tours in California, Florida, and Oregon.  He also served as Strategic Policy Advisor to the Four-Star General commanding war efforts in Iraq and Afghanistan, as well as director of port and cargo security on the White House Staff.

Captain Spaner holds an MBA from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), a B.S. cum laude from the United States Merchant Marine Academy where he was the Regimental Commander, and is a distinguished graduate from U.S. Navy Pilot Training.  He holds the “Key to the City” from Traverse City, Michigan for citizenship, is a former fellow at the Council on Foreign Relations, and is a former White House Fellow.