Commander Karima A. Hantal of STT Retires After 2 Decades in Coast Guard
Family, friends, shipmates, and dignitaries gathered June 5 to honor Commander Karima A. Hantal, United States Coast Guard, at a formal retirement ceremony recognizing more than 21 years of exemplary service to the Nation. The ceremony celebrated Commander Hantal’s groundbreaking career as a Coast Guard officer and proud native of St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands.
2026-06-09 18:33:50 - VI News Staff
The program opened with welcoming remarks by Dr. Araceli “Chelly” Bachner, followed by the arrival of the official party, the National Anthem, and a blessing delivered by Deacon Orien Donovan. Captain Carrie A. Wolfe, United States Coast Guard, offered presiding official remarks and led the presentation of awards and certificates, highlighting Commander Hantal’s leadership and impact across the Service.
A central moment of the ceremony was the reading of “The Watch,” the traditional poem marking the end of a service member’s watch and the passing of duties to the next generation of Coast Guard men and women. Commander Stephanie Washington delivered the reading, honoring Commander Hantal’s more than two decades of standing the watch so that others could “sleep soundly in safety.” Commander Hantal then provided her own remarks, reflecting on her career, her family, and the shipmates and mentors who shaped her journey. The program also featured an interpretive dance by Ms. Desiya Samuel and Ms. Demiya Henley, followed by the Coast Guard’s service song, “Semper Paratus,” the departure of the official party, and a reception in honor of Commander Hantal and her family.
Commander Hantal currently serves as Senior Advisor to the Assistant Commandant for Workforce and Family Services at Coast Guard Headquarters in Washington, D.C., where she advises on national policy and work-life programs that support more than 80,000 active-duty, reserve, civilian, and auxiliary personnel and their families. Over her career, she has specialized in prevention operations ashore, serving as a Marine Inspector at Sector New Orleans, Inspections Division Chief at Sector Lake Michigan in Milwaukee, and Prevention Department Head and later Executive Officer at Marine Safety Unit Port Arthur, Texas.