NEW LONDON, Conn. – Command of the U.S. Coast Guard International Ice Patrol (IIP) will be passed from Cmdr. Scott Rogerson to Cmdr. Lisa Mack at a ceremony scheduled for 11 a.m., June 29 at Fort Trumbull State Park.




The change of command ceremony is a time-honored tradition that formally restates to officers and personnel the continuity of the authority of the command. It is a total transfer of responsibility, authority and accountability from one individual to another.

Formed by international agreement in the wake of the RMS Titanic disaster, the IIP has successfully protected the North Atlantic shipping lanes from the hazard of icebergs for almost 100 years. Throughout its existence, the IIP has evolved through a series of profound structural and operational changes.

From its beginnings with the Revenue Cutter Service’s vessels Miami and Seneca to today’s HC-130J aircraft equipped with the with the ELTA-2022 360° X-Band Radar, the IIP has remained dedicated to locating and tracking icebergs in the cold, foggy waters of the Grand Banks of Newfoundland and providing mariners with timely and accurate ice limits. As a result of these broadcasts, no ships have been damaged and no lives have been lost on board vessels heeding IIP’s warnings.

Rogerson is a native of Carmel, Calif. He graduated from the U. S. Coast Guard Academy in 1989 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Applied Science. After receiving his Master of Science degree in Meteorology and Physical Oceanography from the Naval Postgraduate School and spending three tours at sea, he returned to southeastern Connecticut to teach at the Academy and serve as the deputy commander of IIP. Rogerson also worked as the Director of the Coast Guard Auxiliary in Philadelphia, Pa. after which he returned to IIP as the commanding officer. His decorations include four Coast Guard Commendation Medals, the Coast Guard Achievement Medal and the Military Outstanding Volunteer Service Medal. Rogerson, his wife Marnee and son Christian reside in Stonington, Conn.

Mack was born in Richardson, Texas, and graduated from the U.S. Coast Guard Academy in 1993 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Marine Science. She served aboard the U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Polar Star in Seattle, Wash., as a deck-watch officer and communications officer. From there she was assigned to Marine Safety Office Honolulu as a marine inspector. She completed graduate study at the University of Washington in Seattle in 1999, receiving a Master of Science degree in Oceanography. In her first tour at the International Ice Patrol she served as the ice information officer and then as the ice operations officer. Subsequently, she served as operations officer of U.S. Coast Guard Polar Sea in Seattle and as executive officer of U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Mackinaw in Cheboygan, Mich. From 2006 to 2007, she was assigned to U.S. Coast Guard Headquarters in Washington, D.C., as a program analyst in the Office of Planning and Performance. Her most recent assignment was to U.S. Coast Headquarters as Chief, Mobility and Ice Operations Branch. Her decorations include three Coast Guard Commendation Medals and two Coast Guard Achievement Medals.

Officiating the Change of Command and Retirement Ceremony is Capt. Liam J. Slein, currently serving as the Chief of the Prevention Division of the First Coast Guard District in Boston.

This ceremony will also serve as the retirement ceremony for Cmdr. Rogerson who is retiring from the Coast Guard after 21 years of distinguished service.

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