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NMCB 40 Holds Change of Command Ceremony Down Range

Navy NewsStand

Story Number: NNS100925-05
9/25/2010

By Chief Mass Communications Specialist Michael B. Watkins, Naval Mobile Construction Battalion 40 Public Affairs

DEH DADI TWO, Afghanistan (NNS) -- Naval Mobile Construction Battalion Forty (NMCB 40) held a change of command ceremony Sept. 24 at Deh Dadi-Two, Afghanistan.

Cmdr. Tim J. DeWitt relieved Cmdr. Glenn W. Hubbard as commanding officer, bringing an end to Hubbard's two-year tour.

"I'm sad," said Hubbard. "I don't want to leave but I know it's time to go. It's just hard to leave when (NMCB 40) has been doing so well. I love seeing them so successful, and I'm really going to miss that.

During an interview, Hubbard went on to talk about some of the unit's accomplishments during his time as Commanding Officer. According to Hubbard, NMCB 40 established the first permanent detail in Timor-Leste.

"We went into the far reaches of Timor-Leste, building schools, clinics and renovating a university," said Hubbard. "We also did extremely well during our FTX (field training exercise.) I'm proud of all of them."

Hubbard also spoke about his personal accomplishments at NMCB 40.

"I think I've made this place more approachable because I'm approachable," Hubbard said. "I've tried to bring back the enabling and empowering of the small unit leader. I've tried to make this a fun place to come to work."

The change of command ceremony was an abbreviated version, and a departure from the traditional Navy change of command ceremony.

"I think a Navy change of command ceremony in a land-locked country deserves a departure from the norm," said Hubbard.

Hubbard stated he just wanted to get a few last words out to the troops and also ensured as he said with a grin, he would be posting his comments on Twitter and Facebook.

"I want to express my sincere gratitude to the men and women of NMCB 40 for all their service, dedication and hard work," said Hubbard. "They have made this tour enjoyable, rewarding, and humbling. It's all about the people, and the people make the tour."

Hubbard closed his comments with one last "HOO-RAH Forty," before reading his orders and transferring his command to DeWitt.

"To the men and women of Forty: There is no doubt over the next few months we will be faced with many challenges," he said. "But after spending just a few days here, I am extremely confident that together as one team, "Fighting Forty" will come through it all."

DeWitt, a native of Oregon, Ill., received a Bachelor of Science degree in civil engineering at the University of Illinois at Urbana/Champaign and received his commission from Naval Reserve Officer Training Corps (NROTC) in 1993. DeWitt began his career as a Surface Warfare Officer and transferred to the Civil Engineer Corps in January 2000.