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New Commanding Officer Takes Helm of Abraham Lincoln

Navy News Service

Story Number: NNS120921-10
9/21/2012

From USS Abraham Lincoln Public Affairs

NORFOLK, Va. (NNS) -- The leadership of the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN 72) held a change of command ceremony in the ship's hangar bay, Sept. 21.

At the ceremony, Capt. Karl O. Thomas relieved Capt. John D. Alexander as Lincoln's commanding officer in front of the ship's crew, family members and friends.

Participants included Rear Adm. Ted Branch, commander, Naval Air Forces Atlantic, and Rear Adm. Mike Shoemaker, commander, Carrier Strike Group 9.

Alexander assumed command of Lincoln in January 2010, when he relieved Capt. Patrick D. Hall at a ceremony in Everett, Wash. His next assignment will be as Assistant Commander for Career Management at the Navy Personnel Command in Millington, Tenn.

Alexander said he will always remember the Lincoln crew and their unmatched professionalism and dedication.

"This has been the most physically and mentally demanding job I have ever had and, without a doubt, the most rewarding," he said. "This crew and this strike group team have been enormously successful. It has been that way for one reason and one reason alone: a collective selfless commitment to excellence."

Thomas said he is honored to follow in Alexander's footsteps.

"Captain Alexander has built a winning culture and an extremely cohesive team on board Abe," Thomas said. "This crew has answered the call twice, in short succession, and they have answered it with professionalism and zeal. That winning culture and enthusiasm will be extremely important as we enter the next phase of Abe's life.

"We have the opportunity to get Abe back into the fight, right and on time or ahead of schedule, with more warfighting capability, ready for another 25 years of service to this country. We have the opportunity to show that we are up for the challenge."

Thomas' most recent assignment was at the Office of the Secretary of Defense at the Pentagon in Washington, D.C. Lincoln marks his first assignment commanding an aircraft carrier.

Thomas received his commission in 1986 after graduating from the Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute with a degree in management systems. Prior to commanding Lincoln, Thomas served as the commanding officer of the U.S. 6th Fleet command ship USS Mount Whitney (LCC 17) and the executive officer aboard the Nimitz-class aircraft carriers USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN 69) and USS George Washington (CVN 73).

During the past two years, Lincoln has completed two deployments, including an eight-month change of homeport deployment that brought her to Naval Station Norfolk from Naval Station Everett, Wash., her home since January 1997. Over the next four years, Lincoln will undergo a refueling complex overhaul in Newport News, Va.