Outgoing Senior Chief Jeffrey Mallory (left) salutes new Senior Chief Paul Decker with Captain M.J. Huebchman (center) overseeing the Change of Command. Senior Chief Boatswain's Mate Paul Decker took over command at the St. Ignace Coast Guard Station/Aids to Navigation from Senior Chief Boatswain's Mate Jeffrey Mallory at 11:30 a.m. Friday, June 13, during change of command ceremonies.

Senior Chief Decker is a native of Indiana and enlisted in the Coast Guard in 1988. Upon graduation from Cape May, New Jersey Training Center, he was assigned to the Coast Guard tender Clamp, followed by assignments at Station Michigan City, Indiana, Station Port Huron, and temporary duty with Port Security Unit 309 to Port Au Prince Hati. He served with Aids to Navigation Team Dulcac in Los Angeles, and he was Officer in Charge at Station Michigan City. Before taking command in St. Ignace, he was Officer in Charge at the Coast Guard station in Lorain, Ohio.

During his 20 years in the Coast Guard, Senior Chief Decker has been awarded two Coast Guard Commendation Medals, two Achievement Medals with the Operational Distinguishing De vice, a Commandant's Letter of Commendation with Operational Distinguishing Device, six Good Conduct Medals, and Expert Rifle and Pistol Medals.

United States Coast Guard St. Ignace outgoing Senior Chief Jeffrey Mallory (right) with new Senior Chief Paul Decker. He and his wife, Diane (nee Churchill), have three sons, Ryan, 20, Matthew 19, and Zachary, 9.

"My wife did research on St. Ignace over the Internet and we are excited to be here," said Chief Decker. "I love the Great Lakes area and enjoy hunting and fishing. What better place to work and have fun than St. Ignace."

"Senior Chief Mallory left me with a great group of personnel," he continued. "We spent the week prior to the change of command going over the relief process, making sure this will a smooth transition."

Retirement of Senior

Chief Mallory

Following the change of command ceremonies, Captain M.J. Huebchman, Commander Sector Sault Ste. Marie, presided over the retirement ceremony of Senior Chief Jeffery Mallory, who as been at the St. Ignace station since June 2006.

Decker family members attending the ceremony are Diane Decker, Zachary Decker, Senior Chief Paul Decker, Dianne James, and Richard James. Senior Chief Mallory enlisted in the Coast Guard in 1980 and his first assignment was at Sault Ste. Marie, followed by duties at Station Grand Marais and Station Marblehead, Ohio, Coast Guard Support Center in Kodiak, Alaska, Coast Guard Cutters Neah Bay and Point Ledge, and serving as Officer in Charge at Stations Manistee and Frankfort.

"This has been a special time in my life and our family's lives with the Coast Guard," said Senior Chief Mallory. "I have enjoyed all the assignments, but it is time to settle down in one community and enjoy retirement."

During his more than 28 years in the Coast Guard, Senior Chief Mallory has been awarded two Coast Guard Commendation Medals, a 911 Medal, four Achievement Medals, nine Good Conduct Medals, two Unit Commendations, two Merit - orious Unit Commendations, three Meritorious Team Commen dations, Sea Service Ribbons, and two National Defense Service Medals.

The Mallory family includes (from left) Roy Fox, Judy Fox, Jamie Wills, Cody Mallory, Diane Mallory, Brooke Mallory, Senior Chief Jeffrey Mallory, Sam Mallory, Morgan Davis, Sandra Mallory, and Pete Mallory. He and his wife, Diane, have three children, Cody, Morgan, and Brooke, and the couple plans to enjoy retirement in Frankfort.

History of Station St. Ignace

In 1968, construction was started at the current site for the United States Coast Guard Station and upon its completion, the station on Mackinac Island was transferred to St. Ignace. Aids to Navigation was moved to Station St. Ignace in 1982, and in 1992 Station St. Ignace and Aids to Navigation St. Ignace were combined into one unit.

With a crew of 35, Station St. Ignace is responsible for search and rescue missions and aids to navigation covering more than 4,050 miles; Aids to Navigation maintains 134 primary aids, 81 secondary aids, and 101 private aids to navigation.

Coast Guard Auxiliary on hand for the Change of Command were (from left) Chuck Feldman of Rogers City, George Oddy of St. Ignace, Dora Jasinski of Indian River, Stu Dibley of Mullett Lake, Jim Ketchum of Cheboygan, George Schuster and Mary Jane Schuster of Cheboygan, Billy Mueller of Cheboygan, Louie Leveille of St. Ignace, Dave Crockett of Cheboygan, Richard Borth of St. Ignace/Drummond Island, Linda Bedell of Cheboygan, Bob Belonga of St. Ignace, and Ken Larsen of Cheboygan. The St. Ignace station is home to four active Coast Guard Flotillas and auxiliary members dedicate many hours to assisting the station with missions, including training and security for the annual Labor Day Mackinac Bridge Walk.