SEATTLE – Rear Adm. Gary T. Blore, former commander of Air Station Astoria, took the helm of the regional Coast Guard district during a tradition-filled ceremony Tuesday.

Blore acknowledged and encouraged the men and women who carry out the Coast Guard mission every day in the 13th District, which encompasses Oregon, Washington, Idaho and Montana.

“Keep up your superb work,” Blore said, applauding them for “putting service before self every day. Expect no major course changes,” he added, urging them to continue following the work ethic established by his predecessor, Rear Adm. John P. Currier.

Blore, who was commander of Air Station Astoria from 1997 to 2000, returns to the Northwest after nine years serving at Coast Guard headquarters in Washington, D.C. He takes over from Currier, who was an engineering officer at Astoria in the 1980s.

Currier, who is nominated for promotion to vice admiral, is the new Coast Guard chief of staff, responsible for overseeing acquisition, personnel, budgeting, communication technologies, engineering and logistics.

? For more details of the ceremony, plus photos, read Wednesday’s edition of The Daily Astorian, or log on to this Web site later today.