Photo By Petty Officer 2nd Class Elizabeth Thompson | VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. (Feb. 15, 2019) - Lt. Cmdr. Jorge Roldan, left, Alpha Company,...... read more read more
VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. – Navy Expeditionary Combat Command’s Coastal Riverine Force (CRF) welcomed its newest commander during an assumption of command ceremony on Joint Expeditionary Base Little Creek-Fort Story February 15.
Lt. Cmdr. Jorge Roldan became the Navy’s first officer to assume command of one of the CRF’s new company commander positions.
“I am honored, absolutely honored to have been chosen for command,” said Roldan. “Several years ago I was blessed to serve in the coastal riverine force with a caliber of Sailors and leaders like I’d never known. It was those experiences that showed me what toughness was and I am honored to serve with you again.”
Roldan, originally from Guatemala and raised in New Orleans, received a Bachelor of Science in Biomedical Engineering and a Master of Science in molecular Sciences and Nanotechnology from Louisiana Tech university before commissioning as a surface warfare officer (nuclear) in 2006.
Roldan has conducted deployments throughout the U.S. 5thand 7thFleet areas of operation while serving in a number of sea assignments to include USS Guardian (MCM 5), USS Enterprise (DVN 65), Coastal Riverine Squadron 3, USS McCampbell (DDG 85) and USS John C. Stennis (DVN 74).
As a part of his new position as Coastal Riverine Squadron 4’s Alpha Company Commander, Roldan will be responsible for commanding three of the Navy’s newest cutting-edge Mark VI patrol boats, and will deploy with the crafts and crews to provide operational command and control as well as administrative and material support.
“We felt that this unique capability now requires us to ensure that we continue to put the most capable, resourceful young leaders in this positions,” said Commodore Ty Britt, commander, Coastal Riverine Group 2. “This is why we created these commands and the reason for this ceremony today.”
In his remarks, Britt spoke to the history behind the Coastal Riverine Force mentioning that the mission has changed from an inland, riverine environment to more of a coastal and littoral combat environment. It was this shift in mission that led to the development of the Mark VI Patrol Boat which was first delivered in 2015. Today’s total Mark VI force consists of 12 boats which are heavily armed, highly maneuverable, able to carry, support and defend myriad other combat forces throughout the globe.
“I call this a momentous day and it truly is. What I’m most excited about is the future and your role in it,” said Britt, speaking to Roldan. “These craft are still new to us and the Fleet. We’ve only really scratched the surface of what they really can do. That puts you firmly in the vanguard of the next chapter of this craft.”
The new company command positions are one of two new opportunities for Mark VI leadership in the CRF. In addition to the company commander positions, junior surface warfare officers can now also compete to screen for Mark VI patrol boat command-at-sea billets. The new Mark VI command positions were created to provide the dedicated and resourceful leadership required to safely maintain and fight the advanced patrol craft.
“As distributed lethality has evolved in the construct of distributed maritime operations,” said Britt, “Mark VI brings a unique, niche set of capabilities that have relevance throughout every combatant command area of operations.”
Members of the CRF conduct missions in support of port and harbor security, maritime force protection, high-value asset security, humanitarian assistance and disaster relief, and training and partnership exercises with foreign nations.
| Date Taken: | 02.15.2019 |
| Date Posted: | 02.15.2019 14:34 |
| Story ID: | 310942 |
| Location: | VIRGINIA BEACH, VIRGINIA, US |
| Web Views: | 1,170 |
| Downloads: | 1 |
This work, Navy Officer Assumes New Command Position in Coastal Riverine Force, by CPO Karen Rybarczyk, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
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