U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary Flotilla 66 held its 74th annual Change of Watch at the Cole Building in Deltaville on Dec. 9. Leadership of the Flotilla was transferred from the current commander, Mike Moore, to the incoming commander, Scott Burnette.

Perry Hattorf assumed the role of vice commander from James McCoig. Chief Petty Officer Dana Wise, Officer in Charge, Coast Guard Station Milford Haven Aids to Navigation Unit, administered the oath.

Kevin DeNicola was awarded “Auxiliarist of the Year” for his superior performance in promoting recreational boating safety. The event also noted the retirement of Don Connolly after 20 years’ service. Connolly held many roles in the Mathews flotilla, including vice commander, commander, two staff officer positions, and boat crew.

The flotilla marked an extremely productive year, with more than 3,800 volunteer hours, also logging 75 small boat missions and 460 hours underway on patrols, 107 vessel safety checks, and four public education classes.

In 2026, Flotilla 66 will celebrate a major milestone by performing its 75th year of service to the middle bay and its tributaries. Since its charter in 1951, the Mathews Flotilla has offered many thousands of volunteer hours in activities such as maritime safety patrols and escorts, search and rescue operations, safe boating education, aids to navigation verification, stranded boater assistance, Coast Guard manpower and training augmentation, vessel safety checks, and as radio watch standers.

The Coast Guard Auxiliary is the all-volunteer component of the United States Coast Guard. Anyone with an interest in supporting the Coast Guard as an Auxiliarist through on-the-water operational support, public education, vessel safety checks, marine safety and pollution control, among many other missions, is invited to contact Flotilla Commander Scott Burnette at wsburnette56@comcast.net