Photo By Chief Petty Officer William Parker | 180216-N-AT856-126 WILLIAMSBURG, Va (February 16, 2018) - Capt. Nathan C. Johnston,...... read more read more
WILLIAMSBURG, Va. (NNS) – FIRST Navy Expeditionary Logistics Regiment (1st NELR) held a change of command and retirement ceremony on Naval Weapons Station Yorktown, Cheatham Annex, Feb. 16th. Capt. Nathan C. Johnston relieved Capt. Joseph A. Davis, who served at the helm of 1st NELR since April 2015. Following the change of command ceremony, Davis retired after 33 years of service.
Mark Sakowski, Chief of Staff, Navy Expeditionary Logistics Support Group, initiated the event saying "Today we’ll be conducting two distinct ceremonies so it’s your lucky day folks, you’re getting two ceremonies for the price of one today. The change of command ceremony is a product of a rich time-honored naval tradition in which custom has established this ceremony be formal and impressive, designed to strengthen the respect for authority which is vital to any military organization," said Sakowski.
The guest speaker for the change of command and presiding officer for Capt. Davis’ retirement ceremony, Rear Adm. Alan J. Reyes, Commander, NAVELSG, spoke on behalf of Davis and 1st NELR.
Reyes began his remarks saying “It is a privilege and honor to be here to serve and lead you all and to recognize this transition of leadership. Today however is bittersweet for me, not only does this ceremony introduce a new 1st NELR Commodore, but also represents the departure and retirement of one of my most trusted confidants and friend, Capt. Davis. This is also an embarrassment of riches for me as we make this transition I’m confident that this transition is occurring between two of the finest naval officers I have ever known,” said Reyes.
Reyes then introduced Davis, who spoke to an audience of more than 250 ‘Cargo Nation’ personnel, family, and friends about 1st NELR during his tenure.
Davis began his remarks by saying, “The 1st NELR is a unique command, its purpose is to serve as the 9-1-1 command and control element for Navy Expeditionary Logistics anywhere, anytime, worldwide, ready to deploy, communicate, and command within 72 hours of tasking. The importance of logistics I think is best summed up by what the Command Master Chief says, ‘You can go without us, but you won’t be able to stay for very long," said Davis.
Davis closed his remarks with, “Put simply, no major military conflict can be won without logistics. It has been my absolute pleasure to of served you as the Commodore for the past three years, and I wish all of you god speed and that you give Capt. Johnston the same support you gave me,” said Davis.
Davis and Johnston then read their orders and approached Reyes to execute the change of command. Johnston then assumed command as the fifth commander of 1st NELR.
Johnston then addressed 1st NELR for the first time, "Capt. Davis it is truly an honor to have served with you and the NAVELSG staff is impressive just like it was when I was here the first time. 1st Regiment, I didn’t want any other job than this, I’m standing exactly where I want to be, right now I get to be in the Cargo business, back in the Cargo Nation and I get to work with you and I’ve worked with you many times and I know exactly what I’m getting here and I’m impressed.”
Johnston ended his remarks by saying “I look forward to working through the challenges we are going to go through. My promise to you is I’ll come in here every day seeking to serve my creator, seek to serve our Navy and our nation, and I’ll seek to serve you because I am not here to serve myself, that is my promise to you,” said Johnston.
1st NELR provides oversight of Navy Cargo Handling Battalion ONE to ensure they are manned, trained, maintained and equipped to provide programmed capabilities. It also provides Command and Control and operational tasking over assigned units’ operational missions and provides expeditionary support for logistics, cargo handling and port operations.
1st NELR is subordinate to NAVELSG, who is a vital enabler of Maritime Prepositioning, Joint Logistics Over The Shore operations, and maritime forces ashore providing expeditionary cargo handling services for surface, air, and terminal operations, tactical fueling, and ordnance handling/reporting in support of worldwide Naval, Joint, interagency, and combined forces/organization.
| Date Taken: | 02.16.2018 |
| Date Posted: | 02.16.2018 17:51 |
| Story ID: | 266401 |
| Location: | WILLIAMSBURG, VIRGINIA, US |
| Web Views: | 630 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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