NEWS RELEASE USS Cincinnati (LCS 20) Conducts Change of Command

Photo By Petty Officer 1st Class Vance Hand | Cmdr. Andrew Recame, right, the oncoming commanding officer of the Independence-variant littoral combat ship USS Cincinnati (LCS 20), delivers remarks during a change of command ceremony held on the ship's flight deck, July 26. Littoral Combat Ships are fast, optimally-manned, mission-tailored surface combatants that operate in near-shore and open-ocean environments, winning against 21st-century coastal threats. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Vance Hand)  

NAVAL BASE SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA, UNITED STATES

07.26.2024

Story by Petty Officer 1st Class Vance Hand 

Commander, Littoral Combat Ship Squadron 1

SAN DIEGO -- Cmdr. Matthew Knuth was relieved by Cmdr. Andrew Recame as commanding officer of the Independence-variant littoral combat ship USS Cincinnati (LCS 20) during a change of command ceremony held at Naval Base San Diego, July 26. Capt. Douglas Meagher, commodore, Littoral Combat Ship Squadron 1 (LCSRON 1), was the presiding officer and guest speaker at the ceremony.
"Matt, you brought tremendous leadership, drive and motivation to the Cincinnati team and helped keep the ship and crew on a path for success for their upcoming certifications," said Meagher. "Andrew, the job of commanding officer is the greatest job in the Navy, but it will be the first time where you rely more on the art rather than the science of leadership...Andrew, I know you are the right person to take this crew and ship into a highly compressed optimized fleet response plan culminating in a Seventh Fleet deployment."
During the ceremony, Knuth was awarded the Meritorious Service Medal for his superior accomplishments. Knuth will be reporting to U.S. Space Command for his next tour of duty.
“To the crew, all of you are my heroes and it has been an honor and privilege to serve as Captain of such a fine crew,” said Knuth. “I look forward to hearing of the great things you do on deployment, and I will sleep well at night knowing it is you who are out there.”
Knuth grew up in Kansas City, MO, and graduated from the University of Missouri-Columbia in 2006 with a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science. In 2012, he earned his Master of Arts in Political Science from the University of Missouri-Columbia and his Joint Professional Military Education Phase I from the U.S. Naval War College.
“Crew, it is plainly evident how you have grown under Cmdr. Knuth’s leadership. You are our country’s most precious resource, and I do not take my obligation as your commanding officer lightly,” said Recame. “Much like the Olympic torch, you represent the flame that I have been entrusted to carry. I am humbled by this opportunity, and I will strive to do my best every day, because you deserve that from your commanding officer.”
Cincinnati is homeported in San Diego as a part of Littoral Combat Ship Squadron 1. Littoral combat ships are fast, optimally-manned, mission-tailored surface combatants that operate in near-shore and open-ocean environments, winning against 21st-century threats. LCS integrate with joint, combined, manned and unmanned teams to support forward-presence, maritime security, sea control, and deterrence missions around the globe.
For more news from Commander, Littoral Combat Ship Squadron One, visit https://www.surfpac.navy.mil/comlcsron1/ or follow on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/COMLCSRONONE/.
-30-

• Date Taken: 07.26.2024
• Date Posted: 07.31.2024 16:09
• Story ID: 477140
• Location: NAVAL BASE SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA, US