Narwhal command changes

Paul Clinton

Lt. James O’Mara stepped into a pair of rather large shoes Friday

when he took over command of the Narwhal, the U.S. Coast Guard patrol

boat based here.

O’Mara, during a full-dress military ceremony, took over command

of the cutter from Lt. John Kidwell, who leaves after a two-year tour

of duty for graduate school at San Diego State.

“I’m looking forward to continuing the traditions of the cutter

Narwhal,” O’Mara said Friday. “John Kidwell is a great guy.”

Kidwell gained notoriety in the local community in 2001 when he

brought the Narwhal, which was then a new boat, to its Corona del Mar

base from a New Orleans shipyard after a grueling 41-day journey.

Kidwell served as the first captain, or “plank owner,” of the

87-foot Narwhal. The Coast Guard selected the ship to replace the

Point Stuart.

Kidwell, 32, immediately won the admiration of the local community

for his infectious smile and down-home Oklahoma attitude.

But with the two-year tour under his belt, Kidwell decided to seek

another challenge. He’ll pursue a master’s in educational technology.

Coast Guard Capt. John Holmes lauded Kidwell’s tenure as the

$6-million patrol boat’s commanding officer.

“John has done a superb job as commanding officer of this vessel,”

Holmes said to the gathered crowd. “He has been the go-to [person]

whenever we needed him.”

The 24-year-old O’Mara has already made himself at home in Newport

Beach. He now lives in a home on Balboa Peninsula. He didn’t grow up

in the city, he said.

He starts work as the ship’s new commander on Tuesday.