Navy’s 6th Fleet flagship takes on new commanding officer

[unhappycamper]

Capt. Joseph W. Kuzmick prepares to relinquish command of the USS Mount Whitney, 6th Fleet flagship, to Capt. Owen P. Honors, at right, during a ceremony Friday. Vice Adm. James A. Winnefeld Jr., the 6th Fleet Commander, left, was the guest speaker.


Navy’s 6th Fleet flagship takes on new commanding officer
By Lisa M. Novak, Stars and Stripes
European edition, Sunday, January 20, 2008

GAETA, Italy — Capt. Owen P. Honors replaced Capt. Joseph W. Kuzmick as commander of the Navy’s 6th Fleet flagship, USS Mount Whitney, during a change of command Friday in Gaeta.

During the ceremony, the ship and crew were praised for their performance under Kuzmick, the commander since April 2006.

The Mount Whitney is the Navy’s foremost afloat communications platform, serving as a link to the Joint Intelligence Center and Joint Operations Center in Virginia. Formerly based in Norfolk, Va., the ship replaced the USS LaSalle in 2005. As part of its transition, the Mount Whitney joined the Military Sealift Command, incorporating a crew made up of U.S. Navy personnel alongside civilian mariners.

“This hybrid crew — half MSC, half Navy — it works,” said Honors, whose previous assignment was executive officer on the aircraft carrier Enterprise.

“In fact, it’s working really well … the life of the ship got extended eight years. The material condition of the ship is great.”


Rest of article at: http://www.stripes.com/article.asp?section=104&article=51779

[Captain Hilts]

1. Known as "Building 20" in Norfolk. nt

[Sweet Pea]

3. Funny....

Its been in Gaeta for over 5 years now.

[Captain Hilts]

4. It was stationed in Norfolk before that and doesn't set out to sea much no matter where it is based.

[Sweet Pea]

5. I know

I went to sea on her twice.

[thunder rising]

2. In fact it's working so well I'm discharging everybody but me and the nurse there

'cause everybody knows that outside the US, contractors are free to do what they want.