January 16, 2015
Change of command
capt. kyle higgins RELIEVES capt. richard mccormack
schedule of events
offIcial Party Arrives welcome Capt. Richard McCormack
guest speaker Rear Adm. Hugh D. Wetherald Commander, Amphibious Force Seventh Fleet
presentation of awards remarks & reading of orders Capt. Richard McCormack
reading of orders & remarks Capt. Kyle Higgins
departure of offIcial party
tradition The change of command you witness today is not prescribed specifically by the U.S. Navy regulations, but rather is an honored product of the rich heritage of Naval tradition. It is a custom without an equivalent counterpart in the Army or Air Force. This ceremony is designed to strengthen respect for authority which is vital to any military organization. Gathering all hands at quarters and public reading of official orders stems from those days when movement of mail and personnel was a very slow process. This procedure was designated to ensure only authorized officers held command and that all aboard were aware of its authenticity.
The heart of the ceremony is the formal reading of official orders by the relieving officer and the officer to be relieved. Command passes upon utterance by the relieving officer, “I relieve you, Sir!” The officer being relieved responds, “I stand relieved!” The strength and supremacy of today’s Navy stems in large measure from the observance of customs and traditions, each founded on need, each contributing its share to combat effectiveness and smooth transfer of authority. This simple ceremony passing authority and responsibility to yet another fine officer reflects the dedication of free men and women who serve their nation proudly.
history
On February 27, 1967 a flagship was born. Her keel was laid at the Philadelphia Naval Shipyard and 19,200 tons later on November 14, 1970 she was christened a warship. She is the third ship to carry the name Blue Ridge, but the first with the hull designator LCC, the Navy’s first modern command and control platform. United States Ship Blue Ridge represents a unique effort and achievement in naval ship design, built from the keel up to accomplish the mission of command and control. On April 9, 1971 Blue Ridge arrived in San Diego, California, her home for the next
eight years. Blue Ridge left San Diego on July 2, 1979 and moored at her new forward deployed homeport of Yokosuka, Japan on July 17, 1979. In October of the same year she became the permanent flagship of Commander, U.S. Seventh Fleet. During Operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm, Blue Ridge served as flagship for Commander, United States Naval Forces Central Command from 1990 through 1991. The nine and one-half month deployment earned the ship a Navy Unit Commendation Medal. Through the years, Blue Ridge earned nine Battle Efficiency “E” Awards, and in 2007,
1970
1975 1999 2010 and 2011 earned the Captain Edward F. Ney Award for best food service for large deck ships in the Fleet. Blue Ridge was awarded the Joint Meritorious Unit Award and the Humanitarian Service Medal for her valiant relief efforts provided to the people of Japan during Operation Tomadachi in 2011. Blue Ridge continues to support Seventh Fleet with updated command and control capabilities, enabling her staff to remotely coordinate U.S. and allied naval forces. She is the face of the forward deployed Naval forces, the tip of the spear and the finest flagship in the Navy.
1989
1991
fair winds and following seas Captain richard mccormack
previous
commanding offIcers OF USS Blue Ridge (LCC 19)
Capt. Kent J. Carroll Capt. Paul H. Speer Capt. James D. Butler Capt. William D. Hart Capt. J.G. Mcintyre Capt. D.L. Carlson Capt. John D. Chamberlin Capt. William C. Francis Capt. Thomas D. Paul Capt. John H. Heidt Capt. Michael D. Barker Capt. Joseph K. Henderson Capt. Alan I. Heisig Capt. Ernest H. Joy II Capt. Terrence P. La Brecque Capt. D.K. Meier Capt. David Ziemba Capt. Andrew G. Sevald Capt. J. Stephen Maynard Capt. Jeffrey S. Bartkoski Capt. David A. Lausman Capt. Thom W. Burke Capt. Sherman R. Lupton Capt. Daniel C. Grieco Capt. Will Pennington Capt. Richard C. McCormack
Nov. 1970 - June 1972 July 1972 - March 1973 March 1973 - Sept. 1974 Sept. 1974 - July 1976 July 1976 - June 1978 June 1978 - July 1980 July 1980 - July 1982 July 1982 - Jan. 1984 Jan. 1984 - Nov. 1985 Nov. 1985 - Nov. 1987 Dec. 1987 - Nov. 1989 Nov. 1989 - Nov. 1991 Nov. 1991 - Sept. 1993 Sept. 1993 - July 1995 July 1995 - July 1997 July 1997 - June 1999 June 1999 - June 2001 June 2001 - March 2003 March 2003 - Sept. 2005 Sept. 2005 - March 2007 March 2007 - July 2008 July 2008 - Nov. 2009 Nov. 2009 - May 2011 May 2011 - July 2012 July 2012 - Oct. 2013 Oct 2013 - Jan 2015
rear admiral
hugh wetherald commander, amphibious force seventh fLeet
Rear Adm. Hugh Wetherald is a graduate of the University of Washington with a Bachelor of Arts in Economics and received his commission from the Naval Reserve Officers' Training Corps program at Washington in 1984. Wetherald assumed his current duties as Commander Amphibious Force 7th Fleet, Expeditionary Strike Group Seven and Task Force 76 on Sept. 11 2013. He is responsible for the expeditionary and amphibious operations throughout U.S. 7th Fleet area of operations, ranging from humanitarian and disaster relief missions to full combat operations. Wetherald's sea duty assignments include combat information center officer and antisubmarine warfare officer on USS Cushing (DD 985), combat systems officer on USS Paul F. Foster (DD 964), operations officer on USS Lake Champlain (CG 57) and executive officer on USS Shiloh (CG 67). Wetherald took command of USS Lassen (DDG 82) in 2002, deploying to the Western Pacific as the alternate air defense commander in the USS Carl Vinson Strike Group. He also served as the commanding officer on USS Mobile Bay (CG 53) where he deployed to the Arabian Gulf as the air defense commander in the USS Abraham Lincoln Strike Group. During both command tours, Wetherald's ships were awarded the Battle "E" for operational excellence. Ashore, he has served in the Bureau
of Naval Personnel as the department head detailer and sea coordinator, on the Navy Staff as a requirements officer in the Theater Air Warfare Branch in the Surface Warfare Directorate (N86) and in the Program Development Division (N80) as the head, Surface Warfare Branch and as the ship construction appropriation manager. He also served as the military assistant to the Deputy Under Secretary of Defense (Advanced Systems and Concepts), as branch head, Programming and Development Branch, Program Development Division (N80) on the OPNAV Staff and most recently as deputy chief of staff for Plans, Policies, and Requirements (N5/N8), U.S. Pacific Fleet. Wetherald studied at the Naval Postgraduate School where he received a Master of Science degree in Systems Engineering (Anti-Submarine Warfare) and is a 2005 graduate of the Industrial College of the Armed Forces where he received a Master's degree in National Resource Strategy. Personal awards include the Defense Superior Service Medal, the Legion of Merit (3 awards), the Navy and Marine Corps Medal, the Meritorious Service Medal (3 Awards), the Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal (3 awards), the Navy and Marine Corps Achievement medal, various campaign and service medals and seven Battle "E" awards for shipboard excellence.
captain
richard mccormack uss blue ridge commanding offIcer
Capt. McCormack graduated in 1984 from Canyon High School, Canyon Country, Calif. Following graduation he enlisted in the Navy and was later selected to attend the Naval Academy Preparatory School in Newport, R.I. He went on to attend the United States Naval Academy and graduated with distinction in May 1990 with a Bachelors of Science degree in Oceanography. McCormack completed flight training in the F/A-18 and reported to the Wildcats of VFA-131 in March 1995. While assigned to VFA-131 he completed two deployments aboard USS George Washington (CVN 73) and USS John C. Stennis (CVN 74) and participated in Operations Joint Endeavor, Deny Flight and Southern Watch. McCormack reported to the Navy Test Pilot School in Patuxent River, Md. in June 1998 and was designated a Navy Test Pilot in June 1999. He was subsequently assigned to Weapons Test Squadron, Naval Air Weapons Center China Lake, Calif. where he served as the lead test pilot for FA-18 E/F mission systems development. McCormack reported to the Blue Diamonds of VFA-146 in June 2001 for his Department Head tour. He completed two extended deployments aboard USS John C. Stennis (CVN 74) and USS Carl Vinson (CVN 70)
and participated in Operations Enduring Freedom and Anaconda and presence operations in the Western Pacific. Following his Department Head tour, he reported to the Rough Raiders of VFA125 in November 2003 where he served as the squadron Training Officer. He was selected for Aviation Command in April 2004. McCormack reported to the Sidewinders of VFA-86 as the Executive Officer in October 2004 and assumed command in February 2006. He led the Sidewinders on an extended deployment aboard the USS Enterprise (CVN 65) that included combat operations in support of Operations Iraqi and Enduring Freedom. In May 2008, he deployed to Iraq as the Officer in Charge of Multi-National Division Baghdad’s Joint Counter Radio Controlled Improvised Explosive Device team supporting the Army’s 4th Infantry Division. McCormack served as the F/A-18 requirements officer on the OPNAV N-88 staff and was subsequently selected for Aviation Major Command. Captain McCormack completed Nuclear Power training in March 2012 and reported to USS George H.W. Bush (CVN 77) as the Executive Officer in April 2012.
captain
kyle higgins uss blue ridge relieving commanding offIcer
A native of Port Jefferson, NY, Capt. Higgins graduated from the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy in 1990. After serving aboard S.S. Cape Nome during Operation Desert Shield, he was designated a Naval Flight Officer in September 1992. Higgins’ fleet assignments include tours on both coasts. He began aws an A-6E Bombardier/Navigator with the “Knightriders” of VA 52 embarked aboard USS Kitty Hawk (CV 63). He then transitioned to the ES-3A and joined the VQ 5 “Sea Shadows” deploying aboard USS Constellation (CV 64). He transitioned again in September 2000 to the EA6B Prowler and joined the “Zappers” of VAQ 130, flying combat missions during Operation Iraqi Freedom aboard USS Harry S. Truman (CVN 75). He served as Commanding Officer of the “Yellow Jackets” of VAQ 138 and as Executive Officer of USS John C. Stennis (CVN 74).
His shore tours include attending the Naval Postgraduate School, where he earned a Master of Science Degree in Space Systems Operations. Higgins served on COMVAQWINGPAC staff as Requirements Officer and Chief Staff Officer. He also commanded Provincial Reconstruction Teams Parwan and Uruzgan, Afghanistan from October 2009 to November 2010, where he operated jointly with the Government of Afghanistan. Accumulating more than 2,300 flight hours and 790 arrested landings, Higgins has numerous personal awards and various unit and campaign awards and was awarded the COMNAVAIRLANT Carrier NFO of the Year Award for 2003. Higgins will report as Commanding Officer of USS Blue Ridge (LCC 19) in January 2015.