An official website of the United States government
Here's how you know
A .mil website belongs to an official U.S. Department of Defense organization in the United States.
A lock (lock ) or https:// means you’ve safely connected to the .mil website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.

Home : Media : News : News Article View
NEWS | May 31, 2019

USS Antietam Holds Change of Command Ceremony in Guam

Commander, Task Force 70 Public Affairs

SANTA RITA, Guam -- USS Antietam (CG 54) held a change of command ceremony at U.S. Naval Base Guam, May 30, 2019. During the ceremony, Capt. Todd Gorman relieved Capt. George A. Kessler as the ship's Commanding Officer of the Ticonderoga-class guided-missile cruiser. The ceremony was held at the Big Screen Theater. Rear Adm. Karl Thomas, Commander, Task Force 70 made the opening remarks.

“There is nothing like ending a command with a successful exercise,” Thomas said during his opening remarks. “Pacific Vanguard was another opportunity for your leadership to shine. Thank you for always stepping up to a successful exercise and your team for answering the nation’s calls.” (Quote pulled from excerpts in his speech).

The ceremony was held to mark the end of a highly successful 23-month command tour for Kessler. During his time as the commanding officer, Kessler successfully took the ship out of emergency dry dock and led the ship in multi-national exercises, such as Multi-Sail 2018, Malabar 2018 and Pacific Vanguard 19.

"I am thankful, honored and humbled to have commanded Antietam," said Kessler. "The ‘Power to Prevail’ has been our model over the last 2 years. It has been amazing to see the motivated and dedicated crew that is a part of Antietam. You are my family and will always have a home. I wish you fair winds and favorable seas always."

Captain Kessler is a native of Albany, Missouri, and commissioned from the United States Naval Academy in June of 1995. His personal decorations include the Legion of Merit; Defense Meritorious Service Medal; Meritorious Service Medal; and various other medals, unit and campaign awards.
CONNECT WITH USINDOPACOM
Facebook

Like Us
X
363,188
Follow Us

ENGAGE & CONNECT MORE WITH PACOM

                                                 

IN THE USINDOPACOM NEWS
The Pentagon Transfers Authority to the Navy to Ensure the Safe Closure of Red Hill
Graphic intended for use as a placeholder for Statements and Press Releases without accompanying imagery.
March 28, 2024 - The Department of Defense announced today that the Joint Task Force-Red Hill has completed its defueling mission at the Red Hill Bulk Fuel Storage Facility in Hawai’i and shifted command and control of the facility to the...

U.S. Marines, Sailors arrive in Darwin for 13th iteration of MRF-D
U.S. Marine Corps Col. Brian Mulvihill, right, the commanding officer of Marine Rotational Force – Darwin 24.3, shakes hands with Royal Australian Navy Capt. Mitchell Livingstone, the commanding officer of Headquarters Northern Command at Royal Australian Air Force Base Darwin, NT, Australia, March 24, 2024. MRF-D 24.3 is part of an annual six-month rotational deployment to enhance interoperability with the Australian Defence Force and Allies and partners and provide a forward-postured crisis response force in the Indo-Pacific. Mulvihill is a native of New York. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Sgt. Cristian L. Bestul)
March 28, 2024 - A new group of Marines and Sailors arrived in the Northern Territory to begin the 13th annual iteration of Marine Rotational Force – Darwin...

Readout of Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III's Call with Philippine Secretary of National Defense Gilberto Teodoro Jr.
Graphic intended for use as a placeholder for Statements and Press Releases without accompanying imagery.
March 27, 2024 - Pentagon Press Secretary Maj. Gen. Pat Ryder provided the following readout...

Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for South and Southeast Asia Lindsey Ford Concludes Visit to Vietnam, Thailand, and the Philippines
Graphic intended for use as a placeholder for Statements and Press Releases without accompanying imagery.
March 27, 2024 - Department of Defense spokesperson Lt. Col. Martin Meiners provided the following readout...

DIU Partners With AUKUS Pillar II for International Prize Challenge
Graphic intended for use as a placeholder for Statements and Press Releases without accompanying imagery.
March 26, 2024 - The Defense Innovation Unit (DIU) is launching the first trilateral prize challenge through AUKUS Pillar II— a defense and security partnership between Australia, the United Kingdom (UK), and the United States (U.S.)— to...