Space and Naval Warfare Systems Activity, Pacific holds Change of Charge Ceremony

Photo By Ashley Nekoui | Rear Adm. Patrick H. Brady, commander, Space and Naval Warfare Systems Command; Capt. Joe J. Beel, commanding officer, Space and Naval Warfare Systems Center Pacific (SSC Pacific); Carmela Keeney, executive director, SSC Pacific; George McCarty Jr., Pacific Command, Control, Communications, Computers, Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance (C4ISR) Department manager; Cmdr. John Sprague; Cmdr. James Knoll, officer in charge, Space and Naval Warfare Systems Activity, Pacific (SSA Pacific). The group posed together during the change of charge ceremony for Sprague, who was being relieved by Knoll on Jan. 10, 2013 in Honolulu, Hawaii.  

SAN DIEGO, CA, UNITED STATES

01.10.2013

Story by Ashley Nekoui 

Naval Information Warfare Systems Command (NAVWAR)

SAN DIEGO – Cmdr. John Sprague was relieved as the officer in charge (OIC) of Space and Naval Warfare Systems Activity, Pacific (SSA Pacific) by Cmdr. James Knoll in a change of charge ceremony Jan. 10 in Honolulu.

Sprague served as the OIC at SSA Pacific since October 2010.

The SSA Pacific OIC oversees Space and Naval Warfare Systems Center Pacific’s (SSC Pacific) site in Hawaii, along with facilities in Guam and Japan.

“Leading a diverse team of 500 forward-deployed personnel, Cmdr. Sprague established SSA Pacific as the Navy’s premier department for the design, integration and installation of information dominance technology to the warfighter,” said Rear Adm. Patrick Brady, commander of Space and Naval Warfare Systems Command.

During his tenure as SSA Pacific OIC, Sprague executed maintenance and modernization of 54 afloat platforms, including two forward-deployed large decks, one command ship, five force level ships, 23 unit level ships, 23 submarines, associated staffs, and squadrons.

Additionally, he advanced joint and coalition warfighting readiness with the design, planning and execution of a $90 million Network Operations Center relocation critical to global fleet communications.

“His efforts directly improved coalition capabilities through the installation of command, control, communications, computers, intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance technologies such as Combined Enterprise Regional Information Exchange System on board 100 Rim of the Pacific Navy ships and headquarters to improve multilateral maritime patrol data and intelligence sharing between U.S. and coalition forces,” said Brady.

Sprague will be retiring from the Navy in January 2013 and looks forward to returning to San Diego with his family.

“Sprague provided outstanding fleet support and highlights the culmination of 22 years of honorable and dedicated service,” said Brady. “His exceptional professionalism, personal initiative, and loyal devotion to duty reflect great credit upon himself and were in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States naval services.”-check this sentence..and were keeping within the highest…

Sprague shared some insight with Knoll during the ceremony.

“When I arrived I was given some Hawaii wisdom which I want to pass on to you. Eighty percent of the days in Hawaii are great and the other 20 percent are absolutely beautiful. Remember that, and enjoy every single one of your days doing the best job in the Navy.”

Knoll received his commission in 1993 upon graduation from the U.S. Naval Academy with a bachelor’s degree in computer science. He attendedNaval Postgraduate School in Monterey, Calif., where he was enrolled in combat systems curriculum and graduated with a master's degree in software engineering. Knoll was selected to the Engineering Duty Community in 1999.

“Cmdr. Knoll is a good fit for this position,” said Capt. Joe Beel, SSC Pacific commanding officer.

Knoll has the background and experience gleaned through a variety of his professional endeavors, including time spent at the Defense Information Systems Agency; Program Executive Office, Enterprise Information Systems; and in combat, to be a strong and effective leader for a command located in an area that is key to the Navy and Department of Defense’s strategic future, noted Beel.

After the change of charge, Cmdr. Knoll shared his thoughts with the audience.

“There is much uncertainty about the current fiscal climate but it is readily apparent that the department of Hawaii, Japan and Guam is well positioned to adapt and continue to provide the services that our stakeholders require.”

• Date Taken: 01.10.2013
• Date Posted: 01.23.2013 11:48
• Story ID: 100896
• Location: SAN DIEGO, CA, US