Within the ceremony, Capt. Stephen Froehlich relieved Capt. Judd Krier, as USS Iwo Jima’s Commanding Officer (CO).
“I’m excited to proceed the subsequent part of our Iwo expertise collectively,” stated Froehlich. “I’m impressed and inspired by our potential to proceed our climb, and there’s no group of pros I’d slightly be doing this with.”
The visitor speaker was Rear Adm. Brendan McLane, Commander, Naval Floor Forces Atlantic, and the presiding official was Rear Adm. Tom Williams, Commander, Expeditionary Strike Group 2.
“Captain Krier’s management was instrumental in growing Iwo Jima, not solely right into a crew of warfighters, but in addition right into a tight-knit household,” stated McLane in the course of the ceremony. “This ceremony represents the end result of a very exceptional tour, the place you led this tremendous group of Sailors.”
After serving because the ship’s govt officer throughout a seven-month deployment to the U.S. fifth Fleet and U.S. sixth Fleet areas of operation, Capt. Krier assumed command as CO and led the crew of Iwo Jima throughout a homeport shift from Mayport, Fla. to Norfolk and an prolonged upkeep interval.
“I’m very pleased with the crew and the work we achieved, whereas specializing in Iwo Jima’s core values of studying, enchancment, wellness, possession, and security,” stated Krier. “Working collectively, we demonstrated learn how to make a difficult upkeep interval an important expertise.”
Krier’s subsequent project is within the Workplace of the Chief of Naval Operations (OPNAV), Expeditionary Warfare.
His earlier sea-duty assignments embody USS Vicksburg (CG 69); USS Truman (CVN 75); USS Ponce (LPD 15); USS Enterprise (CVN 65); and as CO of USS Pearl Harbor (LSD 52).
His assignments ashore embody the USA Naval Academy, the Workplace of the Joint Chiefs of Workers, Nuclear Propulsion Program Administration in OPNAV, and the CO of the Nuclear Energy Coaching Unit in Ballston Spa, N.Y.
Froehlich is a local of Houston, Texas.
His earlier sea-duty assignments embody Helicopter Anti-submarine Squadron Gentle (HSL) 43, the “Battlecats”; USS Juneau (LPD 10); Helicopter Anti-submarine Squadron Gentle (HSL) 51; USS Nimitz (CVN 68); and Service Strike Group 3. He served as CO of Helicopter Maritime Strike Squadron (HSM) 51, in Atsugi, Japan.
His assignments ashore embody aide to the Commandant of the Joint Forces Workers Faculty; Fleet Substitute Squadron Upkeep Officer for Helicopter Maritime Strike Squadron (HSM) 41, the “Seahawks”; and U.S. Strategic Command in Omaha, Neb.
Capt. Brian Hamel, a local of Kalamazoo, Mich., assumed duties as Iwo Jima’s new Govt Officer.
USS Iwo Jima is at Common Dynamics, NASSCO Shipyard in Norfolk for a scheduled upkeep interval.
Amphibious assault ships, equivalent to USS Iwo Jima, mission energy and preserve presence by serving because the cornerstone of the Amphibious Readiness Group and Expeditionary Strike Group.
Amphibious Readiness Teams present the Marine Corps with a way of ship-to-shore motion by helicopter along with motion by touchdown craft.
USS Iwo Jima has supported main humanitarian-assistance and fight operations by which the USA has been concerned.
USS Iwo Jima is known as for the battle of Iwo Jima fought in 1945, by which three divisions of U.S. Marines took management of a tiny island from greater than 20,000 enemy defenders.
The ship’s motto is a quote from Fleet Adm. Chester Nimitz: “Among the many Individuals who served on Iwo Jima, unusual valor was a standard advantage.”
Twenty seven U.S. service members have been awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor for heroic actions in the course of the Battle of Iwo Jima, greater than another single operation throughout World Warfare II.
