East Haven Resident Elected New Coast Guard Auxiliary Commander

United States Coast Guard Auxiliary Flotilla 24-01 in Branford ushers in a change of command at the top with a newly elected flotilla commander and vice flotilla commander taking office in January 2012.

East Haven resident Kevin Morann will serve as the new flotilla commander.

Morann succeeds Mark Haines, who will continue on as staff officer for human resources and public education. Haines had served as commander for several terms recently and in the past.

Morann had served as vice flotilla commander during Haines’ watch beginning in 2009. He has been a volunteer firefighter/EMT in the since 1982.

While taking a boating and seamanship class in 1997 sponsored by the East Haven Fire Department and taught by members of U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary Flotilla 24-01, Branford, he was so impressed by the quality of the instructors (Mark and Lillian Haines) that he joined the Auxiliary on April 29, 1997, when he completed the course.

Morann has held several staff positions including communications officer and navigation systems officer. His qualifications include boat crew/crew member, aids to navigation verifier, vessel examiner and administrative procedures in addition to being a certified EMT.

He has completed training for the recreational boating safety and program visitor course, introduction to marine safety and environmental protection and the AUXWEA weather course.

During 2010, he completed his Auxiliary Operations (AUXOP) qualifications that included six advanced specialty courses:  navigation, weather, search and rescue, patrols, seamanship and communication.

 “Ever since that first basic boating class, I have been learning something new every year from the Auxiliary,” said Morann. “I have taken so many classes and I have gotten valuable information from every single one, making me a safer boater as well. Under Lillian Haines, our immediate past flotilla commander, I learned so much and, although it was more work than I could have imagined, the job was so rewarding and a lot of fun, too. It’s amazing that the same people who taught me the very basics so many years ago are still teaching me now.”

Ralph V. Vuolo, Jr., joined the Auxiliary on June 29, 2010. He is qualified as a vessel examiner and also has completed the administrative procedures course. He will serve as the Flotilla Staff Officer for Materials.

He has been a 911 dispatcher since 1999 and a volunteer firefighter and EMT since 1988 with the East Haven Fire Department. He is currently working on his Watchstander qualification for the U.S. Coast Guard.

He is also currently enrolled in the AUXWEA Weather course, completed the classroom portion of Boat Crew and will continue in that course. He has enrolled in the Instructor Program for the Auxiliary, so that he may participate in its public education programs.