Naval Station Rota Holds Change of Command > United States Navy > News-Tales

Rear Admiral Brad Collins, Commander, Navy Area Europe, Africa, Central served because the presiding officer for the ceremony, which was  attended by Spanish Vice Adm. Ricardo Hernandez, Admiral-in-Chief, Rota Naval Base, in addition to quite a few distinguished guests, American and Spanish service members, Naval Station Rota staff and their household.

 

“Naval Station Rota, Spain serves because the hallmark of U.S.-Spanish army cooperation,” mentioned Collins. “Because the ‘Gateway to the Mediterranean,’ from right here in Rota, the set up permits operations that present crucial safety and stability to the maritime commons of Europe and Africa, together with the Mediterranean Sea, one of many busiest sea lanes on the earth.”

 

Baird took command in June 2019 and led the set up by means of a worldwide pandemic, hosted evacuees from Afghanistan throughout Operation Allies Welcome, and noticed the preliminary homeport swaps for the Ahead Deployed Naval Forces-Europe destroyers.

 

“Phrases can not categorical my gratitude in direction of this group, nor how proud I’m of what this group completed collectively.  One of many issues I’m most happy with is that this set up by no means stopped working by means of the pandemic, however I’ve by no means felt extra fulfilled than throughout our work right here in assist of the evacuations from Afghanistan,” mentioned Baird. “Our crew is made up of not solely the service members but additionally the civilians who serve and their members of the family – each Spanish and US.  With out each one in all you, the successes and accomplishments of the previous 3 years wouldn’t have been attainable.”

 

Baird took a novel method to management throughout his tenure by means of frequent social media updates to the group, a development that started through the pandemic, through which he typically instances would weave in related tales from his private life so as to add perspective to the ever-changing state of affairs.  Baird famous that the group’s assist and the exhausting work and self-discipline of the service members enabled the 41 instructions at Naval Station Rota to securely and efficiently meet their missions, however none of that might have been attainable with out the shut partnership with the set up’s Spanish hosts.

 

“For many years, US army personnel and their households have considered Rota as probably the most fascinating responsibility stations on the earth, and one of many important causes for that’s due to the pleasant and welcoming area people.” mentioned Baird. “However I feel the challenges we shared and conquered collectively by means of the pandemic and thru supporting the evacuees from Afghanistan have surpassed emotions of friendship.  We now really feel like we’re a part of one massive household. A Spanish and American household.

 

Upon taking command, Suarez mentioned he seems ahead to persevering with Rota’s file of excellence and constructing upon the shut ties with the Spanish.

 

“My household and I are very excited to have the chance to expertise life in Spain and to construct upon the outstanding work Capt. Baird has executed right here in Rota,” mentioned Suarez. “Collectively, with our Spanish companions, Staff Rota will proceed to supply the very best assist to the warfighters on the waterfront, the strategic carry missions on the flightline, and the households which are a part of our group.”

 

Naval Station Rota permits and helps U.S., NATO and associate nation forces by means of six traces of operation that are safety, port operations, air operations, security, high quality of life, and what’s referred to as the core. The core consists of, gas, water, energy and data know-how infrastructure. By means of these traces of operation NAVSTA Rota maximizes the fight functionality of U.S. and allied operational forces.