Losing the Best

It was just another Friday morning and I was sitting at the computer just perusing through my e-mail when I get a frantic call from the public affairs officer from Marine Safety Unit Galveston. He tells me that he has an emergency and he needs immediate public affairs assistance.

Idea’s start plowing through the cobwebs of my mind as I try to figure out what it could be. Is it an oil spill or maybe a ship ran aground? Who knows! But I’m ready for anything.

Then he tells me that Chief Warrant Officer Keith Core is retiring and they don’t have anyone with a camera to capture his last day in the Coast Guard.

Not exactly what I had been building up to in my mind, but a retirement is just as important for the member and everyone else involved. You can’t work anywhere for 23 years and not affect a lot of lives.

And Core was no exception.

With more than 23 years of experience in maritime safety, Keith was a certified Marine Safety Professional with numerous qualifications for both domestic and foreign vessels. His qualifications earned him the title of a Senior Marine Inspector.

During his career Keith worked as a Senior Marine Inspector and Training Officer at Marine Safety Unit Galveston from July 2006 to June 2010.

During Keith’s tour at MSU Galveston he conducted over 700 vessel inspections and multiple marine casualty response operations to prevent the loss of life and continuously improve the safety and security of the nation’s largest petrochemical port complex.

Don’t let the loss of this marine safety professional scare you to much. He may be leaving the ranks of the Coast Guard but he signed on as a civilian and is  filling the role of a marine inspection training officer.

Story and photographs by Petty Officer 3rd Class Richard Brahm

Explore posts in the same categories: MSU Galveston, Uncategorized

Tags: CWO Core, Houston, Marine Inspector, PA3 Brahm, Retirement

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