New Coast Guard commanding officer getting a whirlwind introduction to North Olympic Peninsula

As the commanding officer of Coast Guard Group Port Angeles prepares to leave his post for headquarters in Washington, D.C., the incoming leader is getting a whirlwind introduction to the North Olympic Peninsula before assuming command Wednesday.

“He’s getting the firehose treatment,” Capt. Bill Peterson, the current skipper, joked of Capt. Mark D’Andrea last week.

D’Andrea, 44, arrived in Port Angeles earlier this month and last Tuesday began touring the group’s stations, cutters and facilities, and meeting the personnel he will oversee after he takes over from Peterson in a ceremony Wednesday morning.

D’Andrea most recently served as the executive officer of Coast Guard Air Station Clearwater, Fla., which with 13 aircraft and about 600 personnel is considered the service’s largest and busiest air station.