“She gets it, she knows why I have to be here,” Bozeman said of his wife. The baby is his fourth child, but the first to be born while he was at sea. “I was this close,” said Petty Officer 1st Class Jack Bozeman, holding up two fingers just an inch apart and saying his son was born just four days ago. and I want to spend time with him and the kids.” “We had back-to-back deployments, been at sea for most of the last two years, and my husband has had the kids for years,” said Petty Officer 1st Class Jamice Wood, a 13-year veteran. Paul Campagna said everyone in the crew is eager to see family and friends again, “everyone knows the job isn’t over until the last line is tied at the pier.” Lewis was there to tell the crew that the Eisenhower Carrier Strike Group, after sailing more than 190,000 miles, operating in waters from the Norwegian and Black seas to the Arabian Sea and the Gulf, had earned the Navy Unit Commendation, one of the highest honors the Secretary of the Navy can grant a crew.Īnd while Capt.
“It’s a privilege to join you in this essential mission.”ĬSG-15’s mission is to direct, execute, mentor and assess academic at-sea live synthetic integrated training of carrier strike groups, expeditionary strike groups, amphibious ready groups, surface independent deployers, allies and other designated groups, enabling them to operate in integrated, joint and coalition environments in the conduct of combatant and operation commander tasking.Aguirre cracked a big grin for just a few seconds, then snapped her attention back to the screen in front of her, holding course at 305 degrees. “I believe deeply in our duty to the fleet, and in your ability to create the crucible in which our deploying teams strengthen the shield with which they defend this nation and sharpen the sword to strike down its enemies when called upon and directed by our civilian leaders,” said Kirk. Army War College, Kirk has served in a variety of afloat and ashore billets as a surface warfare officer, including deputy commander and chief of staff for Joint Warfare Center, Allied Command Transformation and commanding officer for both USS De Wert (FFG 45) and USS Zumwalt (DDG 1000). Naval Academy with a Masters in National Security Studies from the U.S. Kirk takes command of CSG-15 having recently served as the Commander of Carrier Strike Group 11, based out of Naval Station Everett, Wash. You represent our strength, and our strategic advantage.” Each Sailor is unique and brings diversity and value to our Navy. “To the thousands of Sailors with whom I have sailed and served…thank you for your incredible commitment to serve and for your indomitable spirit.
Welch expressed his gratitude to his shipmates, both past and present. “Thank you for showing me the humbling privilege of being part of something far greater than self.”ĭuring Welch’s 23 months in command, he led CSG-15 during 16 integrated and advanced training exercises, focused on the mission of mentoring, training and assessing West Coast-based deploying carrier strike groups (CSGs), amphibious ready groups (ARGs), and independently-deploying ships. “To my country, represented by our flag and the flags of all states in the Union arrayed around us: thank you for the opportunity to serve,” said Welch. The ceremony also marks Welch’s retirement from his 34-year career as a surface warfare officer. Dave Welch, from Peoria, Ill., to become the 75 th commander since CSG-15’s establishment in 1930.
James Kirk, from Hershey, Penn., relieved Rear Adm. NAVAL AIR STATION NORTH ISLAND, Calif., –Ĭarrier Strike Group Fifteen (CSG-15) held a change of command ceremony aboard Naval Air Station North Island at the CSG-15 headquarters building on June 11.