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Rizzo Turns Over Command of NAS JRB New Orleans

Navy NewsStand

Story Number: NNS060623-15
Release Date: 6/23/2006 3:47:00 PM

By Chief Journalist Jay Cope, Naval Air Station New Orleans Public Affairs

BELLE CHASSE, La. (NNS) -- Capt. A. J. Rizzo, commanding officer, Naval Air Station Joint Reserve Base (NAS JRB) New Orleans, turned over command of the base to Capt. Jay Adelmann during ceremonies June 21 at 2 p.m.

Conducted before the assembled personnel assigned to NAS JRB New Orleans and invited guests, the change of command ceremony is a unique event that culminates in the transfer of total authority and accountability of the command from one officer to another.

Guest speaker for the ceremony was Rear Adm. Craig O. McDonald, commander, Navy Reserve Forces Command located at the Naval Support Activity New Orleans’ Eastbank complex.

McDonald had served with both men previously and lauded both of them as strong leaders.

"Military leadership is one of the most challenging endeavors one can undertake," he said. "They understand this. The both love America, love their Navy, and are the Sailors our nation needs as we continue into the 21st century. Leadership ties them together."

Rizzo led the base through a historic time, overseeing the base's support of the rescue, relief and recovery efforts following Hurricane Katrina. The base served as the operational and logistics hub for the military enabling the rescue of more than 10,000 people. Base personnel ensured that greater than 22 million pounds of relief supplies and approximately 10,000 military relief workers were transported to New Orleans within the first two weeks after the storm. Additionally, the base provided lodging and food for many of these rescue and relief personnel throughout the emergency. The base became the sixth busiest airport in the country in the days following the storm.

The skipper referred to Hurricane Katrina during his remarks and praised the efforts of the NAS JRB team in responding to the emergency.

"The task of leadership is not to put greatness into humanity, but to elicit it, for the greatness is already there," said Rizzo. "Your greatness during my two-year tour is readily apparent. Greatness is what you accomplished in the aftermath of Katrina…it means making this base the irreplaceable cornerstone of the largest military and civilian disaster rescue effort in the history of the United States."

Rizzo's other accomplishments as commanding officer included numerous milestones for the base, such as NAS JRB receiving the Golden Helm retention award, the opening and of a new state-of-the-art dining facility enhancing food service on the base, realizing more than $1.5 million in savings from various supply and construction programs, and ensuring a continued 12-year record of environmental excellence.

His emphasis on host and tenant command excellence helped to promote NAS JRB New Orleans' status as one of the finest military installations in the country. This resulted in the base being selected as the Commander, Navy Region South nominee for the 2005 Commander in Chief Installation Excellence award.

Rizzo's next assignment is with Northern Command, Peterson Air Force Base in Colorado Springs, Colo. He departs the base with some sense of reluctance as he displayed with the last few sentences of his speech.

"When all is said and done, Katrina will not be the defining moment in the history of this air station," he said. “It was, however, a touchstone for all of us at NAS JRB New Orleans. It was a powerful common experience - a bond between us - that years in the future we will remember...that when it mattered most, we could depend upon each other. It has truly been an honor to serve with you."

Adelmann transfered to NAS JRB from the Pentagon, where he worked as section head for Common Systems, Networking and Aircraft Inventory. He has had a distinguished career, serving with units across the country such as Carrier Airborne Early Warning Squadron (VAW) 110 “Firebirds” at NAS Miramar, Calif.; the VAW 117 “Nighthawks;” the “Cotton Pickers” of VAW-88; the VAW-78 “Fighting Escargots” in Norfolk, Va.; and as officer-in-charge for the VAW-77 “Nightwolves at NAS Atlanta.” Additionally, Adelmann was the flag lieutenant for Commander, Naval Reserve Force, Carrier Air Wing 20 Air Wing Operations Officer, and served a second tour with VAW-78 as the commanding officer.

For related news, visit the Naval Air Station New Orleans Navy NewsStand page at www.news.navy.mil/local/nasno/.