PACIFIC OCEAN -- Carrier Strike Group (CSG) 11 held a change of command ceremony aboard the aircraft carrier USS Nimitz (CVN 68), May 16.

Rear Adm. James A. Kirk relieved Rear Adm. Yvette M. Davids and assumed duties as CSG-11 commander.

Davids assumed command of CSG-11 in May 2019. During her tenure, CSG-11 successfully completed multiple underway periods and qualifications, and is currently conducting a composite training unit exercise (COMPTUEX).

"Serving with the Sailors of Carrier Strike Group 11 has been one of the greatest experiences of my life,” said Davids. “As I have visited each command, I have seen Sailors dedicated to accomplish our mission, with excellence. At the beginning of my tour, the USS Nimitz had just left dry dock and today I depart this flagship of the Nimitz Carrier Strike Group while out at sea, which has simply been incredible to watch unfold. It has been an honor to serve, and I know that these Sailors will be able to accomplish any mission that they receive."

Davids’ next assignment is Chief of Staff, U.S. Southern Command.

Nimitz Carrier Strike Group ships and units include guided-missile cruisers USS Princeton (CG 59), homeported in San Diego, Calif.; guided-missile destroyers USS John Paul Jones (DDG 53), homeported at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, Hawaii; USS Sterett (DDG 104), USS Shoup (DDG 86), and USS Howard (DDG 83) homeported in San Diego, Calif., USS Sampson (DDG 102) and USS Ralph Johnson (DDG 114), homeported in Everett, Wash.; Destroyer Squadron 9 based in Everett, Wash.; and Carrier Air Wing 17 and its associated squadrons and personnel from Naval Air Station (NAS) Whidbey Island, Wash., NAS Lemoore, Calif., NAS North Island, Calif., and Naval Base Ventura County, Calif.

Kirk’s previous assignment was deputy commander and chief of staff for Joint Warfare Center, Allied Command Transformation in Stavanger, Norway.

"It is an honor to follow in Rear Adm. Davids’ footsteps, and it is privilege to return to the fleet and serve alongside the Sailors of Carrier Strike Group 11,” said Kirk. “They are an impressive team of professionals. I count myself fortunate to be joining this team."

The Nimitz Carrier Strike Group is underway conducting COMPTUEX. COMPTUEX is an intensive exercise designed to fully integrate units of the carrier strike group, while testing a strike group’s ability as a whole to carry out sustained combat operations from the sea.