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CTF 63/MSCEURAF Changes Leadership

Navy News Service

Story Number: NNS110729-20
7/29/2011

By Kim Dixon, Military Sealift Command Europe and Africa

NAPLES, Italy (NNS) -- Commander, Task Force (CTF) 63 and Commander, Military Sealift Command Europe and Africa (MSCEURAF) held a change of command ceremony aboard Naval Support Activity Capodichino, Naples, Italy, July 29.

Capt. Richard Soucie relieved Capt. James E. Tranoris as commander, CTF 63 and commander, MSCEURAF.

"Today, I am blessed to have the opportunity to speak on subjects about which I know a great deal … the service of Commodore Jim Tranoris and the contributions of his great task force to our Nation's defense," said Vice Adm. Harry B. Harris Jr., commander, U.S. 6th Fleet. "Task Force 63 has performed superbly. All the things we do here in the 6th Fleet, all around Europe, and throughout Africa, would not get done if we didn't have Task Force 63. Jim leads, and his staff manages the day-to-day business of getting the 'beans, bullets, and butter' where they need to be."

During Tranoris' command, CTF 63 and MSCEURAF saw operations markedly increase in support of Operations Enduring Freedom, Iraqi Freedom, New Dawn, Odyssey Dawn and Unified Protector.

"This is not a culmination of my efforts alone, but the collective efforts of a very dedicated group of men and women, military and civilian, afloat and ashore that I have had the privilege and honor to command, or maybe a better word is influence over the past 26 months," said Tranoris after receiving the Legion of Merit for his work as CTF-63 and MSCEURAF. "The professionals at CTF-63 and MSCEURAF together have accomplished a tremendous amount of good work with regard to logistics support throughout the European and African theaters of operation."

Tranoris executed operational and tactical control of 341 Military Sealift Command (MSC) and U.S. Navy ships across more than a dozen ship classes, while directing the regular tactical employment of nine logistics aircraft and embarked vertical replenishment helicopters.

Also assigned as the embarked commander of Africa Partnership Station (APS) East, Tranoris trained and led international staffs during three deployment cycles to help improve African partner capabilities and capacity to combat maritime threats such as piracy, trafficking, and illegal fishing.

"To my fellow commodores and captains, I thank you very much for your friendship, camaraderie and support," said Tranoris. "It has been a pleasure working with you, your deputies and assistants. I really appreciate the team work I have experienced between the task forces and the staff. You have made my job much easier. I wish you all continued success, and I am looking forward to working with you in my next assignment."

Tranoris is transferring to the NATO Maritime Component Command on the island of Nisida, Italy.

Soucie is reporting from his most recent duty as director of the Plans and Policy Division in the manpower and personnel directorate at U.S. Central Command Headquarters in Tampa, Fla.

"The opportunity to Command comes rarely in a career. I am truly honored and humbled to have been selected for major command and to have the opportunity to assume command of such a great organization," said Soucie. "CTF-63 and Military Sealift Command Europe and Africa have consistently provided superb logistics support to the war fighters in a vast area of responsibility. I am looking forward to continuing their exceptional reputation for service and support to the fleet."

Soucie enlisted in the Navy in 1978, and was subsequently selected into the limited duty officer (LDO) program in May 1988, as a surface operations officer. As an officer, he served aboard aircraft carriers USS Forrestal (CV 59) and USS John F. Kennedy (CV 67), and on the staffs of Commander, Carrier Group Two and Commander, Cruiser-Destroyer Group Two. His shore tours included the Navy Center for Tactical Systems Interoperability; Commander, Naval Air Forces, U.S. Atlantic Fleet; and as the Surface LDO/CWO assignment officer at Navy Personnel Command.

As CTF-63, his responsibilities will include coordinating and providing transportation and delivery of personnel, equipment, fuel, supplies, repair parts, mail, and ammunition via air and surface logistics assets – including MSC combat logistics force ships – to sustain U.S. forces in the European and African theaters.

As COMSCEURAF he will be the area commander in Europe and Africa for MSC, exercising tactical control of all U.S. transportation command forces in the European and African theaters. The commander's area of responsibility includes more than 20 million square nautical miles of ocean, 91 countries and 67 percent of the world's coastlines.