EVERETT — Capt. Michael Coury’s naval career has taken him to Japan, Saudi Arabia, Italy, Bosnia and points beyond.
Now it’s taking him to Everett.
Starting today, Coury, 48, will serve as Naval Station Everett’s top officer. The Quakertown, Penn., native is set to relieve Capt. Thomas Mascolo at a ceremony on base this morning. Coury expects he’ll be stationed here for three years.
Mascolo will move on to a position at Naval Air Weapons Station China Lake in California as a range chief test pilot.
It’s Coury’s first time as a base commander, a position akin to running a city or managing a major company. He’ll ultimately be responsible for everything on base, including budgets, buildings and the welfare of more than 6,000 sailors and civilians.
It’s a 24-7 job that Coury expects will keep him on his feet, especially in the next few months.
“You won’t see me sitting behind my desk,” Coury said.
Coury plays a key role in the future of not only the base, but the city.
Naval Station Everett is one of the top employers in Snohomish County, with a combined payroll of $230 million.
Everett city leaders have expressed concern about the potential loss of the crown jewel of Everett’s base, the USS Abraham Lincoln. It is scheduled to leave in 2013 to refuel its nuclear reactors. It may not come back.
That might leave the base without an aircraft carrier, something that would affect the area economy if fewer Navy families were stationed here.
The decision is now in the hands of the Chief of Naval Operations, Coury said.
The new commander has already talked with local leaders, including Mayor Ray Stephanson and Congressman Rick Larsen about that issue and others.
“We know they have a lot of concerns and we require their support,” he said. “There’s not much we do here that we aren’t going to coordinate with city officials.”
Coury attended the U.S. Naval Academy and the Naval War College, and then climbed the ranks as an aviator flying EA-6B Prowlers.
He served stints at Whidbey Island and Bremerton. He and wife Maureen liked the Northwest so much, they listed Everett as his top choice for a command. They have no kids, but they do have two golden retrievers.
The Courys are avid hikers and they’re looking forward to exploring the Saratoga Passage on their powerboat. They’re already settled in a home at the new Lake Stevens military housing development called Constitution Park.
“It’s a great experience, a great honor, a great challenge for me to take this on,” Coury said.
Debra Smith: 425-339-3197, dsmith@heraldnet.com.
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