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1NCD Welcomes New Commander

Navy NewsStand

Story Number: NNS091027-18
Release Date: 10/27/2009 3:44:00 PM

By Daryl Smith, Commander, 1st Naval Construction Division Public Affairs

NORFOLK, Va. (NNS) -- Commander, First Naval Construction Division (1NCD) held a change of command ceremony Oct. 23 at the Pennsylvania House at Naval Station Norfolk.

Rear Adm. Richard E. Cellon was relieved by Rear Adm. Mark A. Handley.

Cellon served as commander of 1NCD since June 2007 and retired with more than 31 years of service. "It's impossible to adequately express what an incredible honor it has been for me to lead Seabees in my final Navy assignment," Cellon said. "I will be forever grateful for the opportunity and cherish the wonderful memories that opportunity provided."

Cellon was awarded the Distinguished Service Medal during the ceremony.

"Rich's mantra has been that 'there's never been a better time to be a Seabee,' and that reflects the enthusiasm, the passion and dedication he has had for the mission and for being a Seabee," said Vice Adm. Peter H. Daly, deputy commander, U.S. Fleet Forces Command, who served as guest speaker.

Recounting the success of Seabees over the years, Daly added, "In some ways, it's taken the rest of the Navy 65 years to catch up with the Seabees. In the Cooperative Strategy for 21st Century Sea Power, we recognize that preventing wars is as important as winning wars...Seabees have been doing exactly that for decades."

Handley previously served as deputy commander, Navy Installations Command Director Ashore Readiness Division for the deputy chief of Naval Operations (Logistics) in Washington, D.C. Handley also served as commanding officer of Naval Mobile Construction Battalion 5, which received both the Pacific Fleet Battle "E" and the Peltier Award for outstanding military engineering services. He then served as executive officer of the Navy Public Works Center, San Diego, Calif., from August 2001 to May 2003. From May 2003 to June 2005, he served as the commodore of the 22nd Naval Construction Regiment. During this tour, he deployed as a regimental element with the First Marine Expeditionary Force to Fallujah, Iraq, for Operation Iraqi Freedom. In June 2005, he took command of NAVFAC Mid-Atlantic, Norfolk, Va.

"As I take command of the First Naval Construction Division today, I know the metric on which we will be judged will be twofold," said Handley. "First and foremost will be our continued operational success. This is nothing new for the Seabees. The other measure of success will be how we accomplish the mission. Taking care and developing our people, providing the leadership and foundation for continued success in the future. I know that our future challenges will require our very best efforts. That is what I will give to each and every Seabee. And, that is what I know the Navy and the nation will get from the Seabees every day."

1NCD is based at Joint Expeditionary Base Little Creek and oversees about 16,000 U.S. Navy Seabees who deploy worldwide to provide military construction support and humanitarian assistance. The mission of the First Naval Construction Division/Naval Construction Forces Command is to organize, train, operate and maintain the Naval Construction Force, to command and control Naval Construction Regiments and Seabee Readiness Groups, and to develop, coordinate and implement policy and requirements to man, equip and train Seabees.

For more news from Commander, 1st Naval Construction Division, visit www.navy.mil/local/1ncd/.