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Tortuga Changes Command

Navy NewsStand

Story Number: NNS080501-04
Release Date: 5/1/2008 9:53:00 AM

By Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class (SW) Joshua J. Wahl, Fleet Public Affairs Center Detachment Sasebo, Japan

SASEBO, Japan (NNS) -- USS Tortuga (LSD 46) held a change of command ceremony April 29.

Cmdr. Todd A. Lewis relinquished command (LSD 46) to Cmdr. John J. Zuhowski, marking the end a successful 16-month tour.

Rear Adm. Carol M. Pottenger, Commander, Amphibious Force, 7th Fleet/ Expeditionary Strike Group 7, the guest speaker praised Cmdr. Lewis's operational accomplishments and success during his command.

"Cmdr. Lewis put in order no finer example of our Blue/Green team to action and no finer example of a warship ready for mission tasking ready to put to sea and take our United States Marines to war," said Pottenger. "Tortuga did it all and did it all very well."

Lewis built confidence and trust throughout the western Pacific, participating in multiple joint, bilateral and multinational exercises, including Talisman Saber, Foal Eagle, Balikatan and participating for the first time in a Tokyo Metropolitan Government humanitarian assistance disaster relief drill. His hard work contributed to various personal and unit level awards with the special honor or receiving the only Battle "E" award Navy-wide for highest state of overall ship readiness in the LSD ship class.

Lewis thanked the Tortuga crew for their dedication and service during his time in command.

"These awards are not a representation of how successful I am, but of what great people I have surrounding me," said Lewis. "No captain could ask for a finer crew. I will really miss everybody here, but I know I am turning them over to good hands."

At the heart of the ceremony the formal reading of the official orders brought Zuhowski to the podium where he expressed his anticipation for continuing the significant maritime partnership, cooperation and trust Lewis earned as the Tortuga's commanding officer.

"I couldn't ask for a better ship," said Zuhowski. "I have been set-up for success with the impeccable standards Cmdr. Lewis held during his fantastic job in command. Though it won't be easy, I am fully ready to take-up where he left off as we look forward to our upcoming deployment.

Tortuga is a Whidbey Island-class dock landing ship serving under Commander, Expeditionary Strike Group (ESG) 7/Task Force 76, the Navy's only forward-deployed amphibious force. ESG 7/Task Force 76 is headquartered at White Beach Naval Facility, Okinawa, Japan, with an operating detachment in Sasebo, Japan.

For more news from USS Tortuga, visit www.navy.mil/local/lsd46/.