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Alexander Relieves Horton in Juneau Change of Command Ceremony

Navy NewsStand

Story Number: NNS060507-03
Release Date: 5/7/2006 12:56:00 PM

By Journalist 3rd Class Adam R. Cole, Task Force 76 Public Affairs

OKINAWA (NNS) -- Capt. John D. Alexander relieved Capt. Ronald Horton of command of the Navy’s only forward-deployed amphibious transport dock, USS Juneau (LPD 10), during a change-of-command ceremony on the ship's flight deck, May 5.

Prior to turning over command to Alexander, Horton was awarded the Legion of Merit award, presented to him by Rear Adm. Victor G. Guillory, commander, Amphibious Force, U.S. 7th Fleet. When addressing the crew thereafter, Horton emphasized that it was they, not he, who deserved the recognition.

“A commander is only as good as his troops,” said Horton. “This crew is made up of ordinary individuals who do extraordinary things. You epitomize the meaning of "American," because your actions are not driven by what you can do for yourself, but what you can do for your country.”

Horton described his 18-month tenure aboard Juneau as a long climb up to the top of a mountain, one that would symbolize completion of operational commitments and training certifications and a betterment of conduct ashore.

“You are all at the top of that mountain of excellence, and you should all stand proud,” he told the crew.

Horton took over command of Juneau in November 2004 in the midst of the ship’s deployment to the Persian Gulf in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF) and Operation Enduring Freedom (OEF). During that deployment, Juneau served as the sea-based support platform for Marines of the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU) and delivered humanitarian aid throughout the Horn of Africa region.

He oversaw the ship’s completion of that deployment and also a string of joint and multinational/bilateral amphibious exercises throughout Southeast Asia as part of both a fall and spring patrol. The highlight of these operations was Exercise Balikatan, where Navy and Army medical personnel were airlifted into Jolo, Republic of Philippines, from Juneau to treat more than 11,000 Filipino people.

Achieving such an operational schedule takes a special Sailor, the type of Sailor that every Juneau Sailor is, said Horton.

“Capt. Horton recognized from the very beginning that the bedrock upon which our Navy is built is the inseparable relationship between the leader and his warriors,” said Guillory. “I’m proud of the fact that this distinguished leader has leveraged the quality and enthusiasm of his people into real readiness and real capability.”

Alexander, a native of Port Neches, Texas, comes to Juneau after serving as executive officer aboard USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN 69). Prior to that, he was the commanding officer of the “Black Ravens” of Electronic Attack Squadron (VAQ) 135, where the squadron embarked on USS Carl Vinson (CVN 70) and separately abroad to Incirlik Air Base, Turkey, in support of operations Southern Watch and Northern Watch.

Alexander’s shore duty assignments have included flight instructor/Navigation Training Phase department head in Attack Squadron (VF) 128; aide to the Commander, Medium Attack Tactical Electronic Warfare Wing Pacific; and as head Aviation Commander Assignments (PERS-431), Navy Personnel Command.

Alexander, a graduate of Texas Tech University, was commissioned in December 1982 through the Aviation Officer Candidate program and designated a naval flight officer in November 1983.

Alexander expressed at the ceremony great reverence to Horton and the Juneau crew for their struggle and ultimate success in reaching the top of the mountain of excellence. He stated that the ship would now elevate that benchmark of excellence in order to become an even grater force in the global war on terrorism.

“A transformation has already taken place, and now we carry on with the work that was started,” said Alexander. “Our enemies don’t like us because of what we have, both freedom and democracy. It is up to us, as guardians of these values, to do what is hard and do what is right.”

Juneau, commanded by Alexander, is part of the Forward Deployed Amphibious Ready Group, operating out of Sasebo, Japan, and is the Navy’s only forward-deployed amphibious transport dock.