SIU officials were among the hundreds of attendees at the U.S. Military Sealift Command’s (MSC) most recent change-of-command ceremony, which took place Sept. 8 in Norfolk, Virginia, aboard the aircraft carrier USS Dwight D. Eisenhower.
Representing the union were Vice President Government Services Division Nicholas Celona, Assistant Vice President Joe Vincenzo, and Representative Sam Spain.
Rear Adm. Philip E. Sobeck is the agency’s new commanding officer; he succeeded Rear Adm. Michael Wettlaufer, who’d been at the helm since June 2019 (mere months before the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic).
The head of the U.S. Transportation Command (USTRANSCOM), Gen. Jacqueline Van Ovost, served as presiding officer for the change of command ceremony, while the commanding officer of the U.S. Fleet Forces Command, Adm. Daryl Caudle, oversaw Wettlaufer’s retirement ceremony.
“What I learned to appreciate from the start is that MSC is an entire Navy within a Navy,” said Wettlaufer. “Operating a globally deployed fleet leveraging integration across the services and Navy fleets with our commercial shipping and repair industry plus labor partners, MSC generates combat power – that is 145 government and commercially- owned and operated ships today. With only two percent of the budget and at two percent of the people when compared to the Navy, this lean team also mans, trains, equips, deploys, sustains and operates nearly 20% of the Navy’s 290 battle Force ships while providing global logistics support to the other 80%. Importantly, we continue to build new ships to join our stable.”
He added, “I am proud to have been part of this dedicated group that is relentlessly focused on our mission: providing agile logistics, strategic sealift, as well as specialized missions anywhere in the world, for the joint warfighter 24/7, 365 days a year.”
Sobeck takes command after serving as director of Strategic Plans, Policy, and Logistics at USTRANSCOM, headquartered at Scott Air Force Base, Illinois, where he oversaw the revision of the command strategy. His previous flag assignments also include director, 21st Century Sailor Office; commander, Expeditionary Strike Group 3/ Command Task Force (CTF) 36; and commander, Logistics Group Western Pacific/CTF 73.
“Because adversaries continue to challenge our peace, and the peace of our children, with the threat of armed conflict, we must continue to evolve to meet the demands of contested logistics and provide senior national leaders decision advantage,” Van Ovost said. “That’s power. That’s projection. That’s advantage. And I trust that Rear Adm. Philip Sobeck will accelerate this evolution.”
“I am extremely humbled and honored to be the 29th commander of Military Sealift Command,” said Sobeck. “After having served in the U.S. Transportation headquarters, I’ve developed an understanding and an appreciation of the importance of this command. More importantly, I developed a respect and admiration for the people who make this complex maritime enterprise work.”
MSC is self-described as “the leading maritime logistics provider for the Department of Defense supporting Navy fleet commanders and USTRANSCOM operating more than 130 vessels worldwide and managing a $4.8 billion annual budget with a workforce of 5,000 civil service and contract mariners, supported by 1,300 shore staff and 1,200 active duty and reserve military personnel.”
Van Ovost added, “To the men and women of Military Sealift Command, you clearly demonstrate the Navy’s core values of honor, courage, and commitment. I am proud to serve with you. You are critical in the mission to protect the security of the American people. [And] you are vital in the expansion of economic prosperity and opportunity. TRANSCOM, the joint force, and our nation thanks you for your service and sacrifice.”
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