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EXWDC Holds Change of Command, Retirement Ceremony

Photo By Petty Officer 1st Class Elizabeth Thompson | VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. (Feb. 26, 2019) - Capt. Robert Cepek, left, the outgoing...... read more read more

VIRGINIA BEACH, VIRGINIA, UNITED STATES

02.26.2019

Courtesy Story

Navy Expeditionary Combat Command

VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. – Navy Expeditionary Warfighting Development Center (EXWDC) conducted a change of command and retirement ceremony Feb. 26 on Naval Air Station Oceana Dam Neck Annex.
Capt. Robert Cepek was relieved by Capt. Nathan Moyer as commander, EXWDC in a ceremony attended by distinguished visitors, family, and EXWDC members.
Rear Adm. Brian Brakke, commander, Navy Expeditionary Combat Command, was the ceremony’s keynote speaker. He began by acknowledging the hard work of Cepek during his tenure at EXWDC.
“Over the course of his tenure here,” said Brakke, “Capt. Cepek has done a tremendous job of leading this team in the critical work of preparing our warfighters to succeed in whatever mission they’re called upon to support.”
Cepek, a member of the U.S. Naval Academy’s class of 1989 and a native of Arnold, Maryland, assumed command in February 2018. His retirement ceremony was held in conjunction with the change of command.
“I think the word challenging sums up my Navy career,” said Cepek. “That’s when I believe the best of us rises to the surface. When you’re challenged, rise to the occasion. With that, it has been an honor to serve. I leave the Navy in good hands.”
Moyer, a native of New Bedford, Massachusetts, and 1993 graduate of Cornell University, assumed command of EXWDC following his previous assignment as the Chief of Staff of Navy Expeditionary Combat Command.
“I am honored to be standing before you today as the fourth commanding officer of EXWDC,” said Moyer. “I am filling such large shoes. To the men and women [of EXWDC], I am inspired by your professionalism and intense sense of pride. I embark a great journey as I join yours, already in progress.”
EXWDC was designated the lead the warfighting development center as the fleet’s single warfare authority to conduct warfighting effectiveness assessments to identify training, capability, and capacity gaps, to develop solutions and recommendations to resolve warfighting gap, and to set and enforce performance standards.
Their mission is to provide training to Navy expeditionary combat forces in advanced tactics, techniques and procedures across expeditionary combat mission areas.