SAN DIEGO (April 3, 2019) Capt. Kevin Lane assumed command of San Antonio-class amphibious transport dock ship USS John P. Murtha (LPD 26) from Capt. Anthony Roach during a change of command ceremony April 3.
Lane served as John P. Murtha’s executive officer for 15 months from January 2018 to April 2019.
Roach’s tour aboard lasted from February 2015 to April 2019. He began his tour as executive officer before assuming the position as commanding officer May 14, 2016. He guided the ship through the pre-commissioning process, Rim of the Pacific 2018 Exercise, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration’s (NASA) Orion Program Underway Recovery Testing and the ship’s first basic and integrated phase training cycle.
“What an incredible journey it’s been,” Roach said. “Even though I will be leaving this ship, a piece of my heart will be here on John P. Murtha forever. I will be following these great Americans as they embark on deployment.”
Rear Adm. Joe Tynch III, commander, Logistics Group Western Pacific and the ceremony presiding officer, awarded Roach the Legion of Merit for his performance as John P. Murtha commanding officer.
“I have known Captain Roach for decades," said Tynch “He respects all those around him. He plans and drives toward the future. He always gets the jobs and tasks that need to be done, done. He has proven time and time again that he can take on any challenge and win.”
Lane said he is as excited to take over the role of commanding officer as he is for the ship’s future.
“You never get to a moment like this alone,” Lane said. “This crew is brilliant at the basics and they get a little better each time they accomplish something. Along the way we have had some beautiful moments. What has been built here is special and I look forward to working with everyone to keep it going.”
Cmdr. Clinton Blankenship will take over the position of John P. Murtha executive officer.
He previously served as commanding officer at Navy Operations Support Center Springfield, Oregon.
USS John P. Murtha is the 10th San Antonio-class amphibious transport dock ship of the United States Navy and is named in honor of Congressman John Murtha of Pennsylvania and homeported in San Diego and is part of Naval Surface Forces and U.S. 3rd Fleet.
Date Taken: | 04.03.2019 |
Date Posted: | 04.04.2019 14:00 |
Story ID: | 316938 |
Location: | SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA, US |
Hometown: | ALLENTOWN, PENNSYLVANIA, US |
Hometown: | LANCASTER, PENNSYLVANIA, US |
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