MSRON8 CDR retires at 29 years After 29 years of service, Cmdr. Christopher P. O’Halloran retired from the Coast Guard Reserve at a ceremony held at Naval Station Newport, R.I., June 30. The event was attended by his family, friends, and fellow Riverines from Navy Maritime Expeditionary Security Squadron 8. MSRON8’s commanding officer, Navy Capt. John Ouellette, presided over his ceremony and awarded O’Halloran the Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal for his service during the deployment. For the past year, O’Halloran served as the liaison officer between the Task Group at Camp Lemonnier, Djibouti, and the Operational Commander in Rota, Spain. “Success is no accident,” O’Halloran told the crew during the ceremony. “It’s hard work, perseverance, learning, studying, sacrifice and, most of all, love of what you are doing.” � Mustang CDR caps 30 year career Lt. Cmdr. Robert C. Conlin celebrated the end of a 30-year career with the Coast Guard in a ceremony held June 26, 2021. After seven years of active duty as a health services technician, Conlin joined the Reserve in 1998. He received his commission in 2004, and he spent the next two decades at assignments along the eastern seaboard, retiring from the Enforcement branch at Sector New York, where he served as the Reserve Chief of Enforcement. � BZ to D13’s SRO Capt. Laila Grassley, senior Reserve officer for the Coast Guard’s 13th District, receives her retirement certificate from Rear. Adm. Jack Vogt, commander of the Coast Guard’s 13th District, in a ceremony held June 26. Even though she requested an informal retirement ceremony, Grassley’s recognition was formally honored when Vogt awarded her the Meritorious Service Medal for her work from October 2019 thru June 2021. After serving 24 years in the Coast Guard, Grassley will be missed by her many friends and shipmates. Fair winds and following seas, Captain! � PST senior chief retires after 20 Senior Chief Petty Officer Nicola Lesourd retired from the Pacific Strike Team in Novato, Calif., in a ceremony held May 13, 2021, after 20 years of service to the Coast Guard. Lesourd joined the PST in 2014, and became its Reserve Command Senior Chief in 2018. BZ, Senior! � Issue 3 • 2021 � RESERVIST 35
