Kingsley Assumes Command of NAS Patuxent River > United States Navy > News-Tales

Departing the command is Capt. John Brabazon, who will take a place with Commander, Navy Installations Command in Washington, D.C.

 

Individuals within the ceremony included Rear Adm. Nancy Lacore, Commandant, Naval District Washington, and Vice Adm. Yancy Lindsey, Commander, Navy Installations Command.

 

“He assumed command in September 2020, and since then he has centered diligently on constructing the crew, defending our belongings, and caring for Sailors,” stated Lindsey of Brabazon. “Brabs, effectively accomplished to beat the myriad of challenges you had overcome to execute mission whereas conserving them secure; it was no simple process.”

 

Lindsey was glowing in his evaluation of Brabazon’s tenure as commanding officer, remarking how the set up elevated its intergovernmental help settlement with St. Mary’s County by $2 million yearly to execute important highway repairs, leveraged the Protection Group Infrastructure Program to reconstruct the intersection adjoining to Gate 2, and collaborated with prepared landowners and the NAVFAC Environmental crew to finally result in the preservation of fifty,000 acres of open wetlands by way of the Readiness and Environmental Safety Integration Program underneath Brabazon’s management. Lindsey additional recommended the NAS Patuxent River personnel throughout this era.

 

“Beneath Brabs’ management the set up crew has made progress and improved high quality of life and repair in practically each side of set up operations, from airfield reconstruction planning, to elevated navy working canine kennel capability, to improved fireplace homes, to repaired sea partitions, to strong personnel recognition packages, and improved single Sailor residing circumstances, they answered all bells and made a distinction,” stated Lindsey. “Approach to go, Pax River”

 

Brabazon took the chance throughout his remarks to thank the members of Patuxent River by division who made such an impression on the mission underneath his command, calling out particular person groups for his or her dedication to the mission and trying to the long run.

 

“As I depart the crew, please know that this isn’t goodbye however ‘till we meet once more,’” stated Brabazon to conclude his remarks. “Please keep ready, keep prepared, and proceed to have one another’s backs. We hardly ever get to decide on our crucible moments, their timing, or their circumstances – they occur, and we’re measured by our response. The very best we will do is put together for them figuring out they may arrive. I’m grateful for the glory to serve our nation. Our Navy serves as a powerful second household in my life, and I couldn’t think about residing with out them; Navy Sailors performing superb deeds all around the globe in hurt’s approach each day and night time. Deeds that we’ll by no means absolutely know.”

 

Brabazon was formally acknowledged for his service to NAS Patuxent River with the Legion of Advantage, and was introduced with proclamations from The Governor of Maryland, the Maryland Senate and Home, the Commissioners of St. Mary’s County, and personally by State Senator Jack Bailey and Delegate Brian Crosby for his contributions to the Southern Maryland neighborhood. Following shows of awards, Kingsley supplied transient remarks to the visitors in attendance on his plans for the way forward for the command.

 

“I sit up for working extra intently with you all around the subsequent 18 months as we proceed to seek out our approach again to normalcy and in-person occasions,” stated Kingsley. “Groups and zoom have been okay, however I feel you’ll agree with me that it’s time to get again in contact with one another, discover extra reside and in particular person partnership occasions to construct upon the nice bonds now we have beforehand established.”

 

Kingsley has served since September 2020 because the air station’s government officer, a place that falls underneath the Navy’s Fleet-Up program. In that program, government officers serve in that place for a 12 months and a half earlier than they “fleet up” to turn into the commanding officer for his or her command tour on the identical ship or station. This observe offers centered command management stability all through a base’s life, based on OPNAVINST 1412.14. Commanding officers reap the advantages of the actions and insurance policies they institute as government officer.

 

A local of Granite Metropolis, Illinois, Kingsley is a 1996 graduate of the US Naval Academy.  Designated a Naval Aviator in 1998, he has served in a lot of squadrons at sea and ashore, together with Helicopter Anti-Submarine Squadron 5 “Evening Dippers,” Helicopter Anti-Submarine Squadron Ten (HS-10) “Struggle Hawks,” Helicopter Sea Fight Squadron Three (HSC-3) “Merlins,” and as Commanding Officer of Helicopter Sea Fight Squadron Eight (HSC-8) “Eightballers.” He has supported quite a few operations worldwide in quite a lot of management roles, together with with Service Air Wing Seven aboard USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN 69) in help of Operation Southern Watch, USS John F. Kennedy (CV 67) and the John C. Stennis Strike Group in help of Operation Enduring Freedom, and USS Carl Vinson (CVN 70) in help of Operation Unified Response in Haiti. Kingsley served because the Chief of Naval Operations Plans and Coverage Deputy Department Head and lead Motion Officer for the Strategic Laydown and Dispersal portfolio from January 2015 till January 2018 earlier than reporting to the Joint Workers (J35), the place he served because the Chief of Operations for the Nationwide Navy Command Middle after which Chief of Workers for the Director of Operations (J3) from September 2018 till December 2019. Kingsley is not any stranger to set up command; he served because the interim commanding officer of Naval Air Facility El Centro in El Centro, California from January to March of 2020.

 

In his new function as commanding officer, Kingsley stated he’ll proceed to construct on the foundations of management laid by his predecessor and supply the perfect service attainable to Pax River’s mission companions.

 

“I’m pleased with the progress we’ve made to date and I sit up for our accomplishments on the highway forward,” stated Kingsley. “I’m assured that that is the correct crew, on the proper time, for the job at hand. Our mission stays to allow mission accomplice success by offering the best base working help and customer support. So, let’s maintain discovering methods to get actual and get higher – take possession, and work to maintain Naval Aviation’s fight edge over our adversaries.  Thanks all. Let’s get to it!”