Photo By Petty Officer 1st Class Vance Hand | Cmdr. Anthony Harris, center, a San Diego native, the oncoming commanding officer of...... read more read more
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SAN DIEGO -- Cmdr. Andrew Laidler was relieved by Cmdr. Anthony Harris as commanding officer of the Independence-variant littoral combat ship USS Oakland (LCS 24) during a change of command ceremony held at Naval Base San Diego, October 25. Capt. Douglas Meagher, Commander, Littoral Combat Ship Squadron 1, was the presiding officer of the ceremony and guest speaker.
“As I stand before you today, I am filled with a mix of pride and nostalgia. This ship has been more than a vessel; she has been our home, a symbol of our commitment, and a testament to the hard work and perseverance of who has served aboard her,” said Laidler. “Together we have faced challenges, celebrated victories, and created memories that will last a lifetime.”
During Laidler’s time in command Oakland completed several material readiness assessments, participated in Joint Maritime Exercise Croix Du Sud alongside 14 allied and partner nations, escorted four unmanned surface vessels during their proof of concept as part of Integrated Battle Problem 23.2, participated in Exercise Autonomous Warrior 2023 alongside the Royal Australian Navy, displayed LCS capabilities during 2023 Indo Pacific International Maritime Exposition, safely sailed through Super Typhoon Mawar, completed 18 Sea and Anchor details and set the record for the longest trip without refueling for an LCS in U.S. 7th Fleet to date.
“To the Oakland crew, I want to recognize all the hard work, blood, sweat and tears that you have given to this ship. Your commitment has been the backbone of our success during both 7th Fleet operations and in the battle of our availability,” said Harris. “Each of you plays a vital role and your teamwork and tenacity have ensured that we remain ready to face the many challenges ahead.”
During the ceremony, Laidler was awarded the Meritorious Service Medal for his superior accomplishments, and will be reporting to Naval Surface and Mine Warfighting development center for his next tour of duty.
“To the remarkable crew of USS Oakland, I cannot thank you enough. You are mature, motivated and tenacious warfighters. Your dedication, hard work and teamwork have been nothing short of outstanding,” said Laidler. “It has been a privilege to serve alongside you, and I am proud of everything we have accomplished together.”
Laidler is a native of Boston, Massachusetts graduated from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in Troy, N.Y. He earned a master’s degree in Systems Engineering from the Naval Postgraduate School and completed his Joint Professional Military Education through the Naval War College. He is an Anti-Submarine/Surface Warfare Tactics Instructor (WTI) and earned his patch in 2018.
Oakland 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/.
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| Date Taken: | 10.25.2024 |
| Date Posted: | 10.30.2024 13:57 |
| Story ID: | 483990 |
| Location: | NAVAL BASE SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA, US |
| Web Views: | 145 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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