The U.S. Coast Guard commissioned their newest Fast Response Cutter, Coast Guard Cutter Jeffrey Palazzo (WPC 1163), during a ceremony in New York City on Sept. 12. The event marked her entry into active service.
The cutter’s namesake, Jeffrey Palazzo, was a New York City firefighter and Coast Guard reservist who made the ultimate sacrifice while responding to the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks at the World Trade Center.
The Jeffrey Palazzo is the 63rd Fast Response Cutter in active service. It will be the fifth vessel of its class homeported in Guam. It joins cutters Vincent Danz, Myrtle Hazard, Oliver Henry, and Frederick Hatch.
Admiral Kevin Lunday, Commandant of the Coast Guard, presided over the ceremony.
“As the nation marks 25 years since Sept. 11, Jeffrey Palazzo’s legacy reminds us of what service and sacrifice mean,” Lunday said. “He answered the call for his city, his country, and his fellow Americans. As this cutter enters service, its crew will carry his legacy forward by standing the watch, saving lives, countering threats, and protecting American interests across the region.”
Palazzo joined the Coast Guard in 1988 and was stationed in Rockaway, New York. During his career, he responded to multiple high-profile incidents and large-scale emergencies.
In 1993, Palazzo was on the first Coast Guard boat to discover the Golden Venture, a cargo ship that ran aground carrying more than 200 Chinese immigrants. He was credited with saving dozens of lives.
After eight years of active-duty service, Palazzo joined the New York City Fire Department while continuing to serve in the Coast Guard Reserve. In early 2001, he earned a position with Staten Island’s elite Rescue Company 5.
On Sept. 11, 2001, Palazzo responded to the World Trade Center as part of the city’s emergency response. He and 10 fellow members of Rescue Company 5 made the ultimate sacrifice that day.
Jeffrey Palazzo will execute Coast Guard missions across Oceania, including maritime security operations, search and rescue, countering illegal fishing, and strengthening partnerships with Pacific Island nations.
Fast Response Cutters homeported in Guam extend the Coast Guard operational reach across the Pacific and defend U.S. and partner-nation interests in one of the world’s most expansive maritime regions.
Replacing 1980s-era 110-foot patrol boats, Fast Response Cutters feature advanced command, navigation, and intelligence systems alongside improved habitability and seakeeping.
The Coast Guard has ordered 77 Fast Response Cutters to perform a range of missions, including countering illicit maritime activities, search and rescue, bilateral and multilateral operations, and defense of ports, waterways, and coastal areas.
All Fast Response Cutters are named after an enlisted Coast Guard hero who performed extraordinary service in the line of duty. The newly commissioned cutter honors Palazzo’s memory and the legacy of all first responders who gave their lives on 9/11.