Photo By Eric Durr | New York Naval Militia Rear Adm. Ten Eyck "Trip" Powell III leaves the auditorium at...... read more read more
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BRONX., N.Y. -- A veteran of 30 years in the Navy and Navy Reserve and Albany, New York-area businessman took charge of the 2,500-member New York Naval Militia on Saturday, Dec. 6.
Naval Militia Rear Adm. Ten Eyck Powell III, who more commonly goes by the nickname “Trip,” replaced Naval Militia Maj. Gen. Robert Wolf, a retired Marine, during a traditional naval change-of-command ceremony held at the State University of New York Maritime College here. Wolf, a retired Marine officer, had commanded the Naval Militia since 2007.
The day’s ceremony marked “a conclusion and a beginning,” said Army National Guard Maj. Gen. Patrick Murphy, the adjutant general of New York. Wolf has come to the conclusion of a successful career of 20 years with the Naval Militia, while Powell, who has served in the Naval Militia since 1986 is beginning a new phase of his career.
Powell previously served as operations officer for the Naval Militia.
The New York Naval Militia is a state military force whose membership consists mainly of Navy, Marine Corps and Coast Guard Reserve members who also enlist jointly the New York force and agree to perform state missions at the direction of the governor. A small number of Naval Militia members are retired Navy, Marine Corps and Coast Guard personnel who serve only in the Naval Militia.
In his remarks Murphy praised the members of the Naval Militia who have responded to the state’s call for assistance in the wake of the Sept. 11, 2001, attack on the World Trade Center, Hurricane Irene in 2011, Superstorm Sandy in 2012 and most recently a freak snow storm in Buffalo just before Thanksgiving 2014.
During the New York National Guard response to Superstorm Sandy, Naval Militia members volunteered to work on Thanksgiving Day, 2012, so that member of the National Guard who had been on duty for almost a month could be with their families, Murphy recalled. That was an important example of the support the Naval Militia provides, Murphy said.
The members of the Navy, Marine Corps and Coast Guard Reserve who volunteer to serve the state in the Naval Militia are an incredibly important resource for the state and the state military forces, Murphy said.
“We could not do it without the support of the Reserve components,” Murphy said.
Murphy praised Wolf for his commitment to the Naval Militia and his commitment to service to the state. Wolf has always been an untiring advocate for the men and women of the Naval Militia, Murphy said.
Over the years Wolf has sacrificed his own time, and time with his family, for the good of the Naval Militia and the people of New York, Murphy said.
Powell, Murphy told the audience, has the kind of experience with the Navy and the Naval Militia which will help the organization thrive.
In his remarks Powell, a resident of the Hudson River town of Coeymans, N.Y., emphasized that he is a real New Yorker. His family made the bricks which built many of New York City’s buildings, Powell said, and he’s had the privilege of boating around the state.
He’s also proud of the New York Naval Militia, Powell said. While the uniforms may vary from Marine Corps digital camo to Navy blue the dedication is the same, he emphasized.
“When we come we come to serve,” Powel l said.
Organized in 1889, the New York Naval Militia predates the Navy Reserve and originally served as a kind of naval version of the National Guard. Members of the New York Naval Militia manned two ships during the Spanish American War in 1898 and later served in World War I and World War II. With the creation of the Navy Reserve other states Naval Militias were phased out but New York's has continued as an excellent source of trained military personnel who assist in state emergencies and security missions.
Today's Naval Militia consists of members of the Navy, Marine Corps, and Coast Guard Reserve who simultaneously belong to the Naval Militia. They put the skills they have learned on federal military duty to work for the state when responding to disasters like Hurricane Sandy or the recent snow storm in Buffalo. Five percent of the force is allowed to consist of retired and former Navy, Marine Corps, and Coast Guard members.
The New York Naval Militia also operates a fleet of nine patrol boats known as the Military Emergency Boat Service which operate on lakes Ontario and Erie, Lake Champlain, the Hudson River and in New York Harbor in support of law enforcement and the Coast Guard.
Powell, served as an Active and Reserve officer in the U.S. Navy for 30 years, commissioning as an ensign in 1978 and retiring as a Captain in 2008. A naval aviator he flew the S-3A Viking anti-submarine aircraft and served in a number of positions in the Navy Reserve including Operations Officer with the Joint Staff of Maritime Defense Zone and Commanding Officer, of Navy Reserve Volunteer Training Unit 102 in Albany.
While serving in the Navy Reserve Powell also volunteered to serve with the New York Naval Militia. His assignments in the Naval Militia have included Assistant Chief of Staff and Commander of the Naval Militias Northern Command.
Powell is the President and chief executive officer of The H.B. Davis Seed Company in Albany.
He is a graduate of Albany Academy, Syracuse University, the Naval War College and the Armed Forces Staff College.
Powell’s awards include: the Navy Marine Corps Commendation Medal, Coast Guard Commandants Commendation Ribbon, Navy Unit Commendation, Navy Battle E, Expeditionary Medal Navy/Marine Corps, National Defense Service Medal with bronze star ,Military Outstanding Volunteer Medal, Sea Service Deployment Ribbon with bronze star, and the Naval Reserve Sea Service Ribbon.
| Date Taken: | 12.06.2014 |
| Date Posted: | 12.08.2014 15:16 |
| Story ID: | 149678 |
| Location: | BRONX, NEW YORK, US |
| Web Views: | 801 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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