Coast Guard Air Station San Francisco

Commander Christopher McAndrew reported as the Commanding Officer of Air Station San Francisco in July of 2025. As Commanding Officer, he leads 100 personnel supporting and operating four MH-65 helicopters to ensure safety, security, law enforcement, and environmental protection of 250 miles of rugged coastline along central California. This Guardians of the Golden Gate area of responsibility spans from Point Arena to Big Sur and inland to the Nevada border.

Prior to Air Station San Francisco, he served as the Deputy Sector Commander and Executive Officer of Sector/Air Station Humboldt Bay leading one cutter, two surf boat stations, an Aids to Navigation Team, and a three MH-65 helicopter air station serving northern California. He also completed a staff assignment as the Chief of the Aviation Resources Division in the Office of Aviation Forces and was responsible for planning, programming, budgeting, and executing the entire Coast Guard aviation portfolio including all billets, assets, training, facilities, and future requirements. He oversaw the annual execution of the $462M Operations and Support budget supporting 24 air stations, 6 air facilities, 4,900 personnel, and over 200 aircraft.

Commander McAndrew is an MH-65 Dolphin Short Range Recovery pilot and has been a designated instructor pilot and flight examiner for both search and rescue and rotary wing air intercept missions accumulating over 3,300 hours of flight time. Previous aviation assignments include Air Station Borinquen, Air Station Atlantic City, and Air Station Barbers Point. He is a Federal Aviation Administration rated Certified Flight Instructor and a rotary wing Airline Transport Pilot. Before Naval Flight Training, he completed afloat tours aboard the CGC RELIANCE (WMEC-615) as an Engineer Officer in Training and the CGC DRUMMOND (WPB-1323) as the Executive Officer.

Originally from Niceville, Florida, Commander McAndrew graduated from the U.S. Coast Guard Academy in 2005 with a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering and earned a Master of Science in Aeronautics from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University.

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CDR Eric Vryheid began his Coast Guard career as a Student Engineer and Damage Control Assistant aboard CGC RESOLUTE from 2007 to 2009 in St. Petersburg, FL, conducting search and rescue and law enforcement operations throughout the Caribbean, Bahamas, and Gulf of Mexico. From 2009 to 2010, he joined the pre-commissioning crew as the Assistant Engineer Officer, becoming a plank owner of CGC WAESCHE and helping establish the service’s second National Security Cutter. From 2010 to 2012, he attended U.S. Navy Flight Training at NAS Whiting Field near Pensacola, FL, where he flew the T-6B and TH-57B/C and earned his designation as a Naval Aviator. From 2012 to 2016, he served as an MH-65C/D pilot at Sector/Air Station Corpus Christi, TX, flying search and rescue, law enforcement, and living marine resource missions along the U.S.–Mexico maritime boundary in South Texas and the Gulf of America. He also held roles as the unit’s Facilities Officer, Public Affairs Officer, Flight Scheduler, and Administration Officer. From 2016 to 2020, CDR Vryheid served as an MH-65D Instructor Pilot and Flight Examiner at Air Station Miami, conducting search and rescue, law enforcement, migrant interdiction, and hurricane response missions in South Florida. He also held assignments as External Affairs Officer, Standardization Officer, Safety Department Head, and Assistant Operations Officer/Chief Rotary Wing Pilot.

From 2020 to 2022, following his operational tours in Coast Guard aviation, CDR Vryheid served as a Fellow in the U.S. Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee Majority. He assisted and advised Committee staff and three U.S. Senators on policy, oversight, and authorizations for the US Coast Guard, Maritime Administration, and Federal Maritime Commission. From 2022 to 2024, CDR Vryheid served as a Strategic Analyst at the Office of Emerging Policy (CG-DCO-X) at U.S. Coast Guard Headquarters. There, he advised the Deputy Commandant for Operations on strategic foresight and new policy areas for the Coast Guard.

CDR Vryheid graduated from the U.S. Coast Guard Academy in 2007 with a Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering and in 2025 earned a Master of Arts in Defense and Strategic Studies from the U.S. Naval War College.

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Senior Chief Douglas Brodbeck currently serves at Air Station San Francisco Command Senior Chief. As Command Senior Chief, he advises Commander Christopher McAndrew, the Commanding Officer of Air Station San Francisco, on issues and initiatives pertaining to morale, welfare, job satisfaction, discipline, utilization, and training of enlisted personnel.

Senior Chief Brodbeck enlisted in the Coast Guard in September of 1999 graduated from boot camp as part of company A-156 in October of 1999. He attended & graduated Aviation Maintenance Technician “A” school at Spartan School of Aeronautics in Tulsa, OK in July of 2001.

Senior Chief Brodbeck’s other assignments include Small Boat Station Portsmouth Harbor, NH; Air Station New Orleans, LA; Air Station Atlantic City, NJ; Air Station Savannah, GA; Air Station Kodiak, AK ALPAT Division; Air Station Cape Cod, MA; and HITRON, FL.

Senior Chief Brodbeck’s awards include an Air Medal; one Coast Guard Commendation Medal with an operational distinguishing device; six Coast Guard Achievement Medals with an operational distinguishing device; five Coast Guard Commandants Letter of Commendation; and other personal and service awards.

Senior Chief Petty Officer Brodbeck is a graduate of Class 230 of the Coast Guard Chief Petty Officer Academy.

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