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USS Rushmore Changes Command in the Northern Persian Gulf

Navy NewsStand

Story Number: NNS070813-07
Release Date: 8/13/2007 2:55:00 PM

By Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Drew Williams, Commander, U.S. Naval Forces Central Command/Commander, U.S. 5th Fleet

USS RUSHMORE, At Sea (NNS) -- USS Rushmore (LSD 47) held a change of command ceremony aboard ship in the Persian Gulf Aug. 9.

Cmdr. Cathal O’Connor turned over command to Cmdr. Calvin Slocumb.

While under O’Connor’s command, the crew earned the Battle Efficiency Award, Officer and Enlisted Surface Warfare Excellence Awards and the Unit Tactics Award.

“I will remember this tour forever,” said O’Connor. “It’s the hardest and best job I’ve ever had, but it’s been worth it to see the string of successes that you, the men and women of Rushmore have achieved, and I am sure it is just the beginning of what you can achieve in the months and years to come.”

The ship’s performance also resulted in excellence awards in efficiency, logistics, safety, retention, unit wellness, maritime warfare, Ship's Store Excellence and Best in Class Award. However, the awards and accolades aren’t what O’Connor appreciated the most.

“Throughout the past 18 months this crew, and especially their families, have answered the call time and again, and for that I am most grateful,” O’Connor said.

Slocumb takes command of Rushmore in the midst of its routinely scheduled deployment to the Central Command area of responsibility.

“My mission statement is this: Honor, Courage, Commitment, the Navy core values,” said Slocumb at an all-hands call Aug. 11. “I want to instill those core values so they become an intricate part of your everyday lives, and bring honor, courage, commitment to the ship and your families.”

Among other things, Slocumb plans to focus on the ship’s sustained readiness during his 18-month tour as commanding officer.

“[Rushmore’s] reputation as a premiere ship in fulfilling mission obligations and commitment is stellar,” Slocumb said. “I want to continue with that, so that we can go anywhere at anytime if the mission calls for it. I am passionate about the Sailors. If I take care of them, they will be able to complete the mission and the ship will always be at its peak of readiness.”

“The Rushmore was my first ship of choice to command,” Slocumb said. “It is a privilege to command a ship that is deployed, to be at a place in the world where we are called upon to go when needed and help fight the [global] war on terrorism. I am thrilled.”

Rushmore is currently operating in the Northern Persian Gulf as part of the Bonhomme Richard Expeditionary Strike Group conducting Maritime Security Operations (MSO) for Combined Task Force 158.

MSO help set the conditions for security and stability in the maritime environment and complement the counter-terrorism and security efforts in regional nations’ littoral waters. Coalition forces also conduct MSO under international maritime conventions to ensure security and safety in international waters so that commercial shipping and fishing can occur safely in the region.