SINGAPORE -- Destroyer Squadron (DESRON) 7 held a change of command ceremony in Singapore, Nov. 22.

Capt. Ann McCann assumed command from Capt. Matthew Jerbi of DESRON 7, the Navy's only forward-deployed DESRON in Southeast Asia.

"It is an honor and a privilege to be your commodore,” said McCann. "What you do is hard work, but you do it to the best of your abilities each and every day, making it possible for us to execute our mission."

McCann assumed command having already been exercise commander for several Cooperation Afloat Readiness and Training (CARAT) exercises.

After reporting as deputy commodore in June 2017, Jerbi assumed command in August, 2018. He led DESRON 7 staff through a multitude of bilateral and multilateral exercises and operations, including the CARAT series, the Southeast Asia Cooperation and Training (SEACAT) exercise, second biennial Pacific Griffin, and the first-ever ASEAN-U.S. Maritime Exercise (AUMX).

Jerbi’s tenure as commodore also included the first-ever rotational deployment of two simultaneous Independence-variant littoral combat ships USS Montgomery (LCS 8) and USS Gabrielle Giffords (LCS 10) to Southeast Asia.

"One word that personifies how I feel right now is gratitude," said Jerbi. "Anyone who has been assigned to this command knows how much is really happening and what I am really grateful for is our Sailors, who stand the watch and execute the mission out in the field. You are what makes us successful and I am personally grateful for your efforts."

On behalf of commander, Task Force 73, Destroyer Squadron 7 is the executive agent for more than 20 bilateral and multilateral security cooperation exercises with partner nations throughout the Indo-Pacific region. As U.S. 7th Fleet's executive agent for theater security cooperation in South and Southeast Asia, Commander, Logistics Group Western Pacific (CLWP)/Task Force 73 (CTF 73) provides combat-ready logistics to the U.S. 7th Fleet.

U.S. 7th Fleet conducts forward-deployed naval operations in support of U.S. national interests in the Indo-Pacific area of operations. As the U.S. Navy’s largest numbered fleet, 7th Fleet interacts with 35 other maritime nations to build partnerships that foster maritime security, promote stability, and prevent conflict.