STUART, FL -- Mr. David Elliot of Palm City was promoted to the position of Commodore in the US Coast Guard Auxiliary at its national conference this weekend in Chicago. A 24-year member of the organization, Commodore Elliot was elevated to National Assistant Commodore for Response and Prevention. This one-star position on the Auxiliary's National Staff is the Auxiliary's equivalent of the active duty Rear Admiral - Lower Half.

Following a long-standing nautical-service tradition of "frocking," at the Auxiliary's formal banquet on Saturday evening Commodore Elliot's new shoulder boards were installed by his wife Anne, also a member of the Coast Guard Auxiliary, and the National Commodore of the Auxiliary, Commodore Nicholas Kerrigan.

Commodore Elliot's new responsibilities include all Coast Guard Auxiliary operational activities on the water, in the air, and in telecommunications, as well as prevention-related activities such as America's Waterway Watch, Aids to Navigation monitoring, and the Sea Partners environmental outreach program. Also included in Commodore Elliot's responsibilities is the Auxiliary's direct augmentation of Coast Guard active duty personnel in Marine Safety activities such as pollution investigations, marine facilities inspections, life raft inspections, mariner documentation examinations, and 13 other functional areas.

Commodore Elliot's personal qualifications and activities on behalf of the Coast Guard include being a small-boat (smaller than a cutter) coxswain, aircraft commander, telecommunications operator, and instructor. As other Auxiliarists do, Commodore Elliot provides his personal facilities for use under orders for the Coast Guard. These facilities include boats, airplanes, and home-based and mobile radio communications facilities.

Serving on a volunteer basis, on an average day Coast Guard Auxiliarists participate in 62 surface and air patrols, conduct 10 search and rescue (SAR) operations, assist 28 boaters in distress, save more than $340,000 worth of property, and participate in 100 operational support missions. All of these activities nationwide fall under the purview of Commodore Elliot's new areas of responsibility.

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Created by Act of Congress in 1939 as the Coast Guard Reserve and now 29,000 members strong, the US Coast Guard Auxiliaryparticipates in all missions of the Coast Guard except combat and direct law enforcement action. For more information call (772) 288-0509 or visit http://www.cgaux.org.