New Leaders Assume Helm

Richard C. Evans has been elected commodore for the U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary's Ninth District, Eastern Region, and Steven Botsford has been elected chief of staff. Their two-year terms run until Dec. 31, 2024. The Eastern Region’s area of responsibility stretches from Toledo, Ohio, to the St. Lawrence Seaway.

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A member of Massena, NY, Flotilla 11, Evans is experienced in both surface and air operations. He is a boat crew member and coxswain, a personal watercraft operator, an aids-to-navigation verifier, and a qualification examiner (certifying crews and coxswains for Coast Guard missions). He also is a marine education environmental specialist. As an air observer, he serves on an air crew, helping with communications and searches during patrols and search-and-rescue missions. In addition, Evans is an instructor for district training events and a facilitator for Risk Management and Team Coordination Training workshops. He is also current in first aid and CPR, and has completed all five levels of Coast Guard Auxiliary leadership training.
 
A member of the Coast Guard Auxiliary since June 2009, Evans has held all elected leadership positions at the flotilla and division levels, plus has served as district staff officer for marine safety, district captain and district chief of staff. At the district level, although cut short by COVID, he developed a Dockside Advising program which reached the public on a large scale, positively engaged multiple Auxiliarists and provided a direct method of conducting numerous recreational boating safety conversations.

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A member of Sackets Harbor Flotilla 12, Botsford is experienced in surface operations as a boat crew member and coxswain, and aids-to-navigation verifier. He has completed the first four levels of Auxiliary Leadership Training. He is also a qualified Coast Guard Watchstander.
 
A member of the Coast Guard Auxiliary since March 2009, Botsford has served in all elected leadership positions at the flotilla and division levels, plus as district captain. He also is an Assistant District Staff Officer for Information Systems. Botsford has been an instructor and facilitator at district training events, teaching navigation rules and facilitating Risk Management and Team Coordination Training workshops.