Vice Adm. Nichols Turns Over the Reigns to Vice Adm. Walsh

Courtesy Photo | MANAMA, Bahrain -- Vice Adm. David C. Nichols Jr. addresses Sailors while turning over the reigns of U.S. Naval Forces Central Command/ 5th Fleet to Vice Adm. Patrick M. Walsh at a ceremony outside 5th Fleet headquarters Nov. 3. in Bahrain. During his two years at the helm of NAVCENT and 5th Fleet, Nichols was charged with ensuring the security and stability of more than 2.5 million square miles of water that includes the Arabian Gulf, Gulf of Oman, North Arabian Sea, parts of the Indian Ocean, Gulf of Aden and the Red Sea. Official U.S. Navy photo by Photographer's Mate 2nd Class (AW/SW) Carolla Bennett.  

MANAMA, BAHRAIN

11.03.2005

Courtesy Story

DVIDS Hub       

By Photographer's Mate 1st Class Curt Cooper

MANAMA, Bahrain -- Vice Adm. David C. Nichols Jr., commander, U.S. Naval Forces Central Command (NAVCENT) and Commander, U.S. 5th Fleet, was relieved by Vice Adm. Patrick W. Walsh, Nov. 3 in a ceremony outside 5th Fleet headquarters in Bahrain.

"I relieved "Timbo" (Adm. Tim Keating) on Oct. 7, 2003 and that commenced the most rewarding 25 months of my life as commander of this organization," said Nichols.

"The greatest thing in that 25 months was getting to work with and know each of you."

During his two years at the helm of NAVCENT and 5th Fleet, Nichols was charged with ensuring security and stability in the maritime environment. This mission included detecting, deterring, and denying terrorists use of the maritime environment as a venue for attack or to transport personnel, weapons or other material throughout the more than 2.5 million square miles of water that includes the Arabian Gulf, Gulf of Oman, North Arabian Sea, parts of the Indian Ocean, Gulf of Aden and the Red Sea.

NAVCENT acts in concert with other Central Command components, coalition forces, and Joint Task Forces to conduct maritime security operations throughout the theater and complements the counter-terrorism and security efforts of regional nations.

"In the two years I've been out here we've made real progress with our maritime security operations which have been very effective in preventing the terrorists from using the sea as a venue for attack or to enable attacks ashore," said Nichols.

Nichols also cited the strides the Iraqi Navy has made toward taking over the security of their waters and protection of their key infrastructure nodes.

"The Iraqi Navy is coming along very well. They are now fully integrated in the northern (Arabian) gulf maritime security operations and very soon they will be taking most of the responsibility for operations aboard the key oil platforms in the northern gulf," he said.

Vice Adm. Nichols will assume the duties of Deputy Commander United States Central Command (CENTCOM) in Tampa, Fl. He will be the first admiral to serve in this capacity.

"There is a tremendous opportunity at CENTCOM," said Nichols. "Nowhere else in the world do we have as much in play that is important to our country as we do in the CENTCOM area of responsibility"

Vice Adm. Walsh was honored to assume the responsibilities of command from Nichols.
"Dave is a coach, who invests himself and a considerable amount of his time in his people. And who fastidiously studies and observes and practices the art of leadership," said Walsh.

"This headquarters is not the same as it was two years ago. We do not think the same. We do not plan the same. We do not operate the same or fly the same or fight the same," he said. "Thanks to Dave Nichols, we're more capable. We're more ready. We're more effective. We're stronger and more relevant"

Walsh most recently served as Director, Programming Division (N80) and Director, Navy Quadrennial Defense Review for the Office of the Chief of Naval Operations at the Pentagon in Washington D.C.

• Date Taken: 11.03.2005
• Date Posted: 11.03.2005 15:22
• Story ID: 3588
• Location: MANAMA, BH