Military

U.S. Navy Middle East Logistics Command Changes Leadership

Navy NewsStand

Story Number: NNS070719-01
Release Date: 7/19/2007 11:34:00 AM

From Military Sealift Command Public Affairs

MANAMA, Bahrain (NNS) -- The command responsible for providing air and sea logistics to the U.S. Navy in the Middle East changed leadership July 19 at U.S. Naval Forces Central Command headquarters in Manama.

Capt. Glen R. Sears II was relieved as Commander, Sealift Logistics Command Central (SEALOGCENT); Commander, Task Force 53 and Commander, Logistics Forces, U.S. Naval Forces Central Command by incoming commodore Capt. Anthony Dropp.

SEALOGCENT provides at-sea logistics and strategic sealift services to U.S. and coalition troops operating throughout the U.S. Central Command theater. In their strategic sealift capacity, the command is responsible for overseeing the delivery of nearly 90 percent of all cargo being used by troops operating in Iraq, Afghanistan and elsewhere in the Middle East.

SEALOGCENT’s commander also serves as Commander, Task Force 53 and Commander, Logistics Forces, U.S. Naval Forces Central Command and is responsible for coordinating the air and sea delivery of people, parts, fuel, ammunition and mail to a fleet of 40-plus U.S. and coalition ships operating in the Middle East.

During Capt. Sears’ year-long tenure as commodore, the command oversaw the distribution of more than 100 million gallons of fuel to ships in theater as well as nearly 500 million gallons of fuel to DoD fuel distribution depots. The command also supported 1,100 air logistics missions and managed a daily average of 12 ships and eight aircraft in theater.

“The last year has been inspiring and humbling. I have been privileged to observe from the deckplate and the waterfront a logistics and sealift capability that no other nation can match,” said Sears. “Several times in the last year the world was watching as events unfolded in the region. Each time the world saw that our Navy was there. Our Navy was there because MSC ships made it happen. It has been a professional highlight and a personal honor to be associated with the mariners, Sailors and civilians who support MSC’s efforts at the tip of the spear.”

Following his tour at SEALOGCENT, Sears will attend the National War College in Washington, D.C.

Dropp reports to SEALOGCENT from the Office of the Chief of Naval Operations where he served as the Future Ships Branch Head and then as the executive assistant to the director, Warfare Integration and Assessments.

“I am thrilled to join the Military Sealift Command team,” said Dropp. “As a career naval surface warfare officer I know only too well the critical importance logistics has on enabling our Navy’s warfighting commanders to effectively and decisively conduct operations wherever and whenever required.”

Military Sealift Command operates approximately 110 noncombatant, merchant mariner-crewed ships that replenish U.S. and coalition Navy ships, chart ocean bottoms, conduct undersea surveillance, strategically preposition combat cargo at sea around the world and move military cargo and supplies used by deployed U.S. forces and coalition partners.