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Iwo Jima Changes Command During Continuing Promise 2010

Navy NewsStand

Story Number: NNS100804-15
8/4/2010

By Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Jennifer Hunt, USS Iwo Jima Public Affairs

PORT DE PAIX, Haiti (NNS) -- The multipurpose amphibious ship USS Iwo Jima (LHD 7) held a change of command ceremony July 31, while deployed to the 4th Fleet Area of Operations.

Capt. Thomas Chassee relieved Capt. Jeffrey Charles Amick.

Amick assumed command of Iwo Jima Jan. 2009, leading the ship through its current surge, a deployment to the 5th Fleet Area of Operations, a successful board of inspection and survey inspection, and many other successful operations including two fleet weeks in New York and Port Everglades.

"I am very fortunate to have gotten such support throughout this tour," said Amick during his farewell speech. "There are no words to truly express how I feel about the crew. Thousands of lives will be touched by everything that the Iwo Jima does. I wish I could stay here as the commanding officer for another 30 years."

"I am standing here today, ready and taking command. A long line of officers, chief petty officers and blue jackets have taken care of me, and that's why I am where I stand today," added Chassee. "All I ask is that this crew provides me with the same support Capt. Amick received."

Chassee reported to the Iwo Jima in 2009 as the ship's executive officer. He will remain the ship's commanding officer until 2012.

A native of Grand Rapids, Mich., Chassee initially enlisted in the Army and served with the 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault) from 1976 to 1979. He later graduated from Michigan State University and was commissioned in Oct. 1983 through Naval Officer Candidate School, Newport, R.I. He has earned a master's degree from Naval Post Graduate School, a master's degreein Strategic Studies from the Marine Corps War College, and also holds a Master of Science from the Florida Institute of Technology.

In 1984, Chassee reported aboard USS Badger (FF 1071) as the anti-submarine warfare officer. His subsequent sea duty assignments include: USS Saratoga (CV 60), USS Lamoure County (LST 1194), USS Guam (LPH 9), USS Ponce (LPD 15), USS Tortuga (LSD 46), USS Wasp (LHD 1), and USS Iwo Jima (LHD 7).

Chassee's shore and staff duty assignments include the Center for Naval Analyses, Alexandria, Va., where he completed the Air War College Command and Staff (non-resident) course of instruction and Commander Strike Forces Training Atlantic where he served as the deputy operations officer for expeditionary strike groups.

He has received four Meritorious Service Medals, three Navy Commendation Medals, and a Navy Achievement Medal.

Iwo Jima departed Norfolk en route to Central and South America and the Caribbean on a humanitarian civic assistance mission.