On Metompkins first patrol. the cutter sped 140 miles at top speed across 25foot waves to rescue three fishermen whose boat had been swamped. later. his crew rescued several fishermen whose vessels were destroyed during the height of Hurricane Hugo. In 1991. he was assigned as Public Affairs Officer for the Seventh Coast Guard District in Miami. Florida. a position he held until 1995. and during which he acted as media spokesman for three mass migrations. two huge oil spills. a plethora of highprofile migrant and drug cases. and the Coast Guard response to EXTENSIONS OF REMARKS. Vol. 154. Pt. 5 Hurricane Andrew.