• Military Menu                       

• Introduction
• Systems
• Facilities
• Agencies
• Industry
• Operations
• Countries
• Hot Documents
• News
• Reports
• Policy
• Budget
• Congress
• Links

• WMD
• Intelligence
• Homeland Security
• Space

Sealift Logistics Command Pacific Holds Change of Command

Navy NewsStand

Story Number: NNS090501-36
Release Date: 5/1/2009 4:19:00 PM

By Sarah Burford, Sealift Logistics Command Pacific Public Affairs

SAN DIEGO (NNS) -- Sealift Logistics Command Pacific (SEALOGPAC), the San Diego-based U.S. Navy command responsible for operational control of Military Sealift Command (MSC) ships in the Eastern Pacific, changed command during a ceremony aboard fleet replenishment oiler USNS Guadalupe (T-AO 200) at Naval Station San Diego May 1.

Capt. David L. Kiehl was relieved by Capt. Jerome Hamel.

Since assuming command of SEALOGPAC in 2007, Kiehl has overseen a wide-range of operations and exercises within the command's area of responsibility, including the deployment of hospital ship USNS Mercy (T-AH 19) in support of the 2008 Pacific Partnership humanitarian mission, a 2008 Joint Logistics Over the Shore exercise and the 2008 Rim of the Pacific exercise.

Kiehl will report to Commander, Carrier Strike Group 11 as chief of staff, embarked aboard aircraft carrier USS Nimitz in San Diego.

"What we do here at MSC has a deep impact on the Navy's ability to complete its missions and to be a show of force on the seas," said Kiehl."I am very proud to have been a part of this and proud of our accomplishments during my command."

Rear Adm. Robert Wray, deputy commander, Military Sealift Command served as guest speaker for the change of command ceremony and presented Kiehl with the Legion of Merit for his outstanding performance as commander of SEALOGPAC.

Hamel comes to SEALOGPAC after a tour of duty in Washington, D.C., where he served on the chief of naval operations' staff as the operations augmentation branch head.

"I'm very excited to be with MSC and to be a part of this great team. This is a great blend of professional men and women who are dedicated to supporting the mission of MSC and the Navy," said Hamel. "I don't feel like I've picked MSC for duty, but rather that it picked me. I'm really looking forward to the challenges of leading SEALOGPAC."

A native of Methuen, Mass., Hamel received his commission in 1985 through the Massachusetts Maritime Academy. His Navy career includes sea tours on board frigates USS Oliver Hazard Perry and USS Badger, amphibious assault ship USS Boxer, dock landing ship USS Harpers Ferry, and as commanding officer on board guided missile destroyer USS Spruance. In addition to his sea tours, Hamel has served ashore at the Naval Reserve Center Quincy, Mass.; Naval Reserve Center Bangor, Wash.; the Bureau of Naval Personnel, Washington, D.C.; and on the Chief of Naval Operations staff in the surface warfare directorate, Washington, D.C.

Hamel holds a Bachelor of Science in marine transportation from the Massachusetts Maritime Academy and a Master of Science in financial management from the Naval Postgraduate School in Monterey, Calif.

For more news from Military Sealift Command, visit www.navy.mil/local/MSC/.