OCTOBER 29, 2025 — The crew of Coast Guard Cutter Campbell (WMEC 909) returned to their homeport at U.S. Naval Station Newport, Monday, following a 54-day maritime border security patrol in the Windward Passage.
Campbell’s crew deployed to the Coast Guard District Southeast area of responsibility in support of Operation Vigilant Sentry, where crews advanced the primary missions of protecting the safety of life at sea while preventing unlawful maritime entry into the United States and its territories.
On Sept. 21, Campbell’s crew coordinated with an HC-144 Ocean Sentry aircrew from Aviation Training Center Mobile to interdict an unsafe, overloaded Haitian sailing vessel with 103 aliens aboard approximately 15 miles from Turks and Caicos. After interdicting the vessel, Campbell’s crew provided life jackets for the aliens and ensured their safety while coordinating with the Royal Turks and Caicos Police Force, who towed the vessel back to the island of Providenciales for further processing.
“This interdiction demonstrates the power of teamwork and international cooperation,” said Cmdr. Krystyn Pecora, commanding officer of Campbell. “Our combined efforts helped to support the Coast Guard’s ongoing mission of deterring illegal maritime migration and ensuring the safety of life at sea. I could not be prouder of this crew’s hard work and dedication throughout this deployment in ensuring Campbell remained mission ready.”
While underway, Campbell’s crew served as the lead task unit in the Windward Passage, coordinating the tactical employment of additional Coast Guard assets to detect, deter and intercept unsafe and illegal alien migration activity.
OVS is a Department of Homeland Security-led operation comprised of federal, state and local partners, responsible for preventing and responding to maritime migration. OVS, previously known as Homeland Security Task Force – Southeast, was established in 2003 and is comprised of more than 50 federal, state and local agencies.
CGD-SE is responsible for Coast Guard activities throughout a 1.7 million square mile area including Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, Florida, Georgia, South Carolina, as well as 34 foreign nations and territories.
Campbell is a 270-foot, Famous-class medium endurance cutter commissioned in 1988. The cutter’s primary missions are counter-drug, alien interdiction and search and rescue operations in support of U.S. Coast Guard operations throughout the Western Hemisphere. The cutter falls under the command of U.S. Coast Guard Atlantic Area based in Portsmouth, Virginia.
For more information on how to join the U.S. Coast Guard, visit GoCoastGuard.com to learn about active duty, reserve, officer and enlisted opportunities. Information on how to apply to the U.S. Coast Guard Academy can be found at https://uscga.edu.
Courtesy Story
U.S. Coast Guard Atlantic Area