 Both "Flagstaff" and "High Point" were scheduled for evaluation by the Coast Guard Hydrofoil Test and Evaluation Team, under guidance from the Coast Guard Research and Development Center, which was formed on 15 August 1974 and remained in existence until 6 May 1975.The Coast Guard commissioned "Flagstaff" on 8 November 1974 after having her hull painted white and the Coast Guard hull-stripe added.Her first commanding officer was Lieutenant Douglas F. Gehring, USCG.