April 22, 2025 —
Coast Guard Cutter John Witherspoon at its homeport in Kodiak, Alaska, during its commissioning on April 3, 2025. U.S. Coast Guard photo.
The Coast Guard commissioned Coast Guard Cutter John Witherspoon on April 3 in Kodiak, Alaska. John Witherspoon is the 58th fast response cutter (FRC) and the first of three FRCs scheduled to be homeported at Coast Guard Base Kodiak.
Rear. Adm. Megan Dean, commander of the 17th Coast Guard District, presided over the ceremony; members of the Witherspoon family were also in attendance, including the cutter’s sponsor, Regina Nash, the daughter of cutter namesake John Witherspoon.
Witherspoon became the first Black man to command a Coast Guard medium endurance cutter. When he assumed command of Coast Guard Vessel Traffic Services – Houston/Galveston, he became the first Black man to command afloat and ashore units. A well-respected, compassionate and admired leader, Witherspoon served as a popular mentor to an army of “teaspoons,” an affectionate term for those who sought sage counsel from him about advancing their Coast Guard careers.
During his service, Witherspoon received the Coast Guard Meritorious Service Medal, two Coast Guard Commendation Medals and the NAACP Roy Wilkins Renown Service Award.
In honor of his service and guidance to many, the Coast Guard established the Captain John G. Witherspoon Inspirational Leadership Award after his passing, which is given to officers who demonstrate his qualities of “honor, respect and devotion to duty.”
FRCs feature advanced command, control, communications, computers, cyber, intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance equipment; over-the-horizon cutter boat deployment to reach vessels of interest; and improved habitability and seakeeping. They perform a multitude of missions that include drug and alien interdictions, joint international operations and national defense of ports, waterways and coastal areas.
Fifty-eight of 67 FRCs that have been ordered are in service: 13 in Florida; seven in Puerto Rico; six each in Bahrain and Massachusetts; four each in California and Alaska; three each in Guam, Hawaii, Texas and New Jersey; and two each in Mississippi, North Carolina and Oregon.
For more information: Fast Response Cutter Program page