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Kauffman Changes Command on Southern Seas Deployment

Navy NewsStand

Story Number: NNS090625-04
Release Date: 6/25/2009 5:02:00 AM

By Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Brandon Shelander, Southern Seas 2009 Public Affairs

PUERTO BALBOA, Panama (NNS) -- The Norfolk-based, Oliver Hazard Perry-Class guided-missile frigate USS Kauffman (FFG 59) held a change of command ceremony in Puerto Balboa June 8.

Cmdr. Dale W. Maxey relieved Cmdr. Robert J. Cepek during the traditional ceremony, which was held on the frigate's flight deck.

"I have many people to thank, and I'm a firm believer that a lot of what you do is owed to the efforts of those who work with you and for you," said Cepek. "It's especially true in the Navy and on small ships like Frigates. I couldn't possibly thank every person in the wardroom, chief's mess and the crew who've helped me or has done something remarkable for Kauffman and her missions. It has been, to put it simply, awe inspiring."

Kauffman help the ceremony during a brief stop in Panama as part of a four-month deployment to Latin America and the Caribbean, participating in Southern Seas 2009, in support of U.S. Southern Command's (SOUTHCOM) Partnership of the Americas strategy.

"For me this is something I've never done before, leave a ship on a deployment," added Cepek. "I've always made every deployment I left on, however, I'm not getting off easy. After a few weeks, I'll be back out to sea on Ike (USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN 69)). I enjoy being out to sea."

Highlights of Cepek's 18 months as commanding officer include the ship's successful completion of two compressed training cycles, a dynamic deployment to the SOUTHCOM area of focus for Southern Seas 2008 and many multinational exercises.

During the current Southern Seas deployment, Kauffman's crew has participated in UNITAS Gold, the 50th iteration of the annual maritime exercise involving more than 12 partner nations in South and Central America as well as Europe. Kauffman has also completed Operation Multinational Alliance to Colombia, a theater security cooperation visit to Belize City, Belize, and transited the Panama Canal.

"This is the best crew I've ever served with and I'm not just saying that because I'm their captain," said Cepek. "Like all captains, I'm incredibly proud. This is my seventh ship and I've seen the good, the bad and what I thought was the very good, but none of them compare to this crew."

Rear Adm. Patrick Driscoll, commander, Carrier Strike Group (CSG) 10, awarded Cepek the Meritorious Service Medal, gold star in lieu of his second award, for outstanding meritorious achievement while serving as Kauffman's commanding officer from November 2007 to June 2009.

Cepek is scheduled to report for duty to CSG 8 as maritime operations officer for 36 months.

Southern Seas 2009 is a deployment that focuses on conducting exercises, military to military engagements and theater security cooperation engagements to enhance relationships with partner nations in the region.

For more news from Commander, U.S. Naval Forces Southern Command, visit www.navy.mil/local/cusns/.