USS Curtis Wilbur Conducts Change of Command

Photo By Petty Officer 1st Class Cody Beam | COMMANDER, FLEET ACTIVITIES YOKOSUKA, Japan (April 14, 2021) - Cmdr. Diane Cua, commanding officer of the Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Curtis Wilbur (DDG 54), is awarded the Meritorious Sevice Medal by Capt. Chase Sergeant, Commodore of Destroyer Squadron 15, during a change of command ceremony. Cmdr. Anthony Massey shall assume command of Curtis Wilbur, relieving Cua for future naval assignments. Curtis Wilbur is assigned to Task Force 71/Destroyer Squadron (DESRON) 15, the Navy’s largest forward-deployed DESRON and the U.S. 7th Fleet’s principal surface force. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Cody Beam)  

YOKOSUKA, KANAGAWA, JAPAN

04.15.2021

Courtesy Story

Commander, Task Force 71/Destroyer Squadron 15

YOKOSUKA, Japan – In a socially-distanced change of command ceremony, Cmdr. Anthony Massey relieved
Cmdr. Diane Cua as commanding officer of the Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Curtis
Wilbur (DDG 54) on April 14 at Fleet Activities Yokosuka.
Cua served as the commanding officer from October 2019 to April 2021, and will report to serve on the staff of
Chief of Naval Personnel, in Washington, DC, for her next assignment.
“It has been a challenging deployment, but our team has been self-sufficient, tough, and resilient,” said Cua.
During her last few days underway with Curtis Wilbur, Cua also expressed her feelings about her time as
commanding officer.
“The Sailors of Curtis Wilbur have impressed me with their motivation and dedication to accomplishing
numerous missions in 7th Fleet. I am proud of each member of Curtis Wilbur, and have been humbled to learn
from and work with the best crew on the waterfront. I am thankful for this amazing opportunity to have served
as their commanding officer.”
The ceremony marked the end of a successful tour for Cua, as the ship’s 19th commanding officer. She led
Curtis Wilbur through the end of a CNO maintenance availability, an arduous basic phase training and
certification cycle, and into a 6-month deployment.
Amid the COVID-19 global pandemic, Curtis Wilbur participated in multiple freedom of navigation operations
in the Indo Pacific theater, independently deployed operations, and carrier strike group operations with USS
Ronald Reagan (CVN 76). Curtis Wilbur’s work with U.S. allies and partners in the region supported the U.S.
Navy’s mutual commitment to international maritime norms and regional stability.
Massey served previously as executive officer aboard Curtis Wilbur.
Curtis Wilbur is assigned to Task Force 71/Destroyer Squadron (DESRON) 15, the Navy’s largest forward-
deployed DESRON and the U.S. 7th Fleet’s Theater Surface Warfare Commander.

• Date Taken: 04.15.2021
• Date Posted: 04.15.2021 01:57
• Story ID: 393884
• Location: YOKOSUKA, KANAGAWA, JP