Coast Guard first class petty officer Nathan Dlabaj was promoted to the rank of chief in a ceremony Friday morning.

Held inside the station Menemsha boathouse, the ceremony was attended by Coast Guard members from station Woods Hole and Chief Dlabaj’s family.

“It is the most significant promotion for a person enlisted in the Coast Guard,” said Senior Chief Justin Longval, speaking to the Gazette by phone after the ceremony. “He has established himself as a trusted leader.”

Chief Dlabaj arrived at Station Menemsha in early 2019 from his previous post with a Coast Guard cutter in Hawaii, Senior Chief Longval said. He was previously a Marine. At Station Menemsha, Chief Dlabaj was responsible for engineering duties, including the upkeep and maintenance of the station’s boats, buildings and vehicles.

With his new rank, Chief Dlabaj will remain in the engineering department.

“He came into the Coast Guard with a great sense of enthusiasm and appreciation,” Senior Chief Longval said. “He and his guys are the behind the scenes element of what keeps the station going.”