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Naval Surface Warfare Center Dam Neck Welcomes New Commanding Officer

Navy NewsStand

Story Number: NNS090821-32
Release Date: 8/21/2009 4:50:00 PM

From Naval Surface Warfare Center Deck Public Affairs

VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. (NNS) -- Naval Surface Warfare Center (NSWC) Dam Neck held a change of command ceremony Aug. 13 on the Dam Neck Annex of Naval Air Station Oceana.

Capt. Stephen H. Kelley relieved Capt. Jon A. Greene as commanding officer.

Rear Adm. James Shannon, commander, Naval Surface Warfare Center, presided over the ceremony and gave the keynote address. Shannon stressed the importance of the Dam Neck commanding officer knowing the difference between process and product.

"Being effective in his (Kelley's) mission is essential because it does not matter how efficient you are if you are not effective," said Shannon of the position. "To be effective is to be real and honest and to make a positive difference that others can recognize as truthful and relevant."

During the ceremony Greene reflected on his three years at Dam Neck and how the organization is unique in its location, earning its reputation as the "Face to the Force."

"We are the only warfare center command in a fleet concentration area. We need to remember that Hampton Roads is truly, Pentagon South, the largest concentration of Department of Defense decision makers outside of the beltway and, also, the home of the largest concentration of naval forces in the entire world," Greene said. "This presents us with a tremendous opportunity and a tremendous responsibility to represent the acquisition and technical community here to our fleet customers and to carry the fleets questions and concerns back to that technical community."

Kelley inherits familiar ground. He has been stationed in the Hampton Roads area a majority of his 31-year career both ashore and at sea. He comes to the command from Combined Task Force 53 forward deployed in Bahrain. As the 25th commanding officer at NSWC Dam Neck, Kelley brings a different perspective.

"Coming from my last tour of duty as commander, Logistics Force U.S. Naval Forces Central Command, I was unsure of what to expect entering a command that is so far from the fight," said Kelley. "I have to tell you, in the few days since I arrived, I have been absolutely struck by the Dam Neck workforce and their consistent emphasis on supporting the warfighter."

NSWC Dam Neck, a field activity of Naval Sea Systems Command, arms warfighters with innovative capabilities by delivering force-level integrated and interoperable engineering solutions, mission critical control systems, and associated tested and training technologies which meet the requirements of the maritime, joint, special warfare and information operation domains.

For more news from Naval Sea Systems Command, visit www.navy.mil/local/navsea/.