Cutter to Welcome New Skipper

The crew of the Coast Guard Cutter Harriet Lane will welcome a new commanding officer in a change of command ceremony here Tuesday at 10 a.m. The crew will welcome Cmdr. John W. McKinley and bid farewell to Capt. Christopher P. Scraba. McKinley comes to the Harriet Lane from an assignment as executive officer aboard the Coast Guard Cutter Boutwell, homeported in Alameda, Calif.

McKinley graduated from George Mason University in 1989 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Public Administration. In 1990, he graduated from the Coast Guard's Officer Candidate School in Yorktown, Va.

From January to July 2003, McKinley deployed to the Middle East as the first officer in charge, Coast Guard Patrol Forces Southwest Asia and Coast Guard liaison officer to Commander, Middle East Forces deployed in support of Operations Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Freedom. McKinley's personal awards include a Meritorious Service Medal, Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal, two Coast Guard Commendation Medals, the Coast Guard Achievement Medal and two Commandant's Letters of Commendation. Scraba will attend the National War College at Fort McNair in Washington, D.C. He is a 1985 graduate of the United States Coast Guard Academy, graduating with a Bachelor of Science degree in Government. Scraba was awarded a Master of Public Administration degree in International Relations with Highest Honors from Troy State University in 1995. In 1998 he was awarded a Master of Arts degree in National Security & Strategic Studies from the Naval War College.

Scraba's personal military awards include one Coast Guard Meritorious Service Medal, six Coast Guard Commendation Medals, two Coast Guard Achievement Medals, one Navy Achievement Medal and two Commandant's Letters of Commendation. The change of command ceremony will take place at the Coast Guard Integrated Support Command in Portsmouth.