Photo By Michael F OConnor | PENSACOLA, Fla. -- Capt. Timothy Kinsella Jr. (left) and Capt. Christopher Martin...... read more read more
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PENSACOLA, Fla. -- The largest base in Commander, Navy Region Southeast hosted a change of command ceremony onboard Naval Air Station (NAS) Pensacola March 14.
Capt. Christopher Martin, the NAS Pensacola commanding officer since March 2016, turned over responsibilities of the base to Capt. Timothy Kinsella, Jr., during the two-hour ceremony at which Rear Adm. Kyle Cozad, the Naval Education and Training Command (NETC) commander, presided.
Martin, a 35-year Navy veteran, retired following the Change of Command ceremony, with Navy veteran and Defense Human Resources Activity Acting Director Mr. Jeffrey Register serving as the guest speaker during the retirement portion of the dual ceremony.
“I will miss this job and I will miss all of you that I have had the true honor and privilege of working with,” Martin said while addressing the crowd. “Whether it is watching the national ensign raised each morning, saying hello to the color guard as they head out to support a service member’s funeral, talking on the brick (NASP 1), or just driving around this wonderful base that is so stepped in history and grander, I will miss it all.”
Under Martin’s leadership, NAS Pensacola received several awards, including the fiscal year 2016 and 2017 Secretary of the Navy Gold Energy Management Awards, the Chief of Naval Operations Environmental Award for Cultural Resources and the Secretary of the Navy Platinum Energy Management Award. Also during his tenure NAS Pensacola received the Retention Excellence Award, its first in seven years.
“I have often heard commanders talking about the burden of command,” he said. “I have to be honest, I never really understood what that meant. If you look at the definition of burden as a noun, you will find this definition; a load, typically a heavy one. Sure it is challenging, but the greatest honor bestowed upon a military officer is the opportunity to lead.”
During the ceremony, Martin was presented the Legion of Merit, an award he attributed to the dedication of the NAS Pensacola service members and staff for ensuring support to the air station’s nearly 80 tenant commands.
Kinsella, who previously served as the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) Defense Planner for Supreme Allied Commander – Transformation in Mons, Belgium, addressed NAS Penscola military and civilian staff as their commanding officer for the first time, expressing his appreciation for the opportunity to continue the traditions and legacy for which NAS Pensacola has been known.
“To all the aviators out there, this is like coming home for us,” Kinsella said. “This is a dream come true for me to come here and be a part of this community and to be a part of this family. Pensacola itself is a very special place. I have been all over this country and there is nowhere like NAS Pensacola and the relationship it has with the city. Pensacola takes great pride in its Navy history and I look forward to continuing that tradition with you.”
NAS Pensacola, referred to as the "Cradle of Naval Aviation," is designed to support operational and training missions of tenant commands, including Naval Aviation Schools Command, the Center for Naval Aviation Technical Training, Naval Air Technical Training Center, Marine Aviation Training Support Groups 21 and 23, and is the headquarters for Naval Education and Training Command.
| Date Taken: | 03.14.2019 |
| Date Posted: | 03.19.2019 15:59 |
| Story ID: | 314878 |
| Location: | PENSACOLA, FLORIDA, US |
| Web Views: | 581 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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