NAVAL BASE VENTURA COUNTY, PORT HUENEME, Calif. – Naval Mobile Construction Battalion (NMCB) 4 held a change of command ceremony on board Naval Base Ventura County, Port Hueneme, Calif., today.
Cmdr. Jeff Lengkeek relieved Cmdr. Jeff Kilian as commander of the battalion.
Capt. Dean Tufts, Commander, Naval Construction Group 1, the guest speaker at the ceremony, commended Kilian for his excellent performance.
“Let me talk about the super stars in front of you,” said Tufts. “And I’m not talking about [Cmdr. Kilian or Cmdr. Lengkeek]; I’m talking about the Sailors, the Seabees, the Air Force and the Marines that make up NMCB 4. Last year these men and women completed $18 million worth of construction across 27 countries. They did it all with professionalism, pride and excellence. ”
Tufts presented Kilian with Meritorious Service Medal for his outstanding performance as the Commanding Officer of NMCB 4 from June 2012 to June 2014.
Before his departure Kilian shared his gratitude for the opportunity to service with the Sailors and families of NMCB 4.
“Seabees, you help me build a fantastic team,” said Kilian. “You are an outstanding group of professionals that has left your mark around the globe.”
“I am leaving with a profound sense of satisfaction knowing that we gave it our best,” said Kilian. “I was part of an outstanding battalion that demonstrated the highest levels of performance through exemplary character, preparedness and disciplined execution. You did everything I asked of you and then some. You exceeded expectation every time.”
Upon assuming command Lengkeek spoke the humbling experience of taking command and leading the battalion.
“I truly am honored and humbled to be your commanding officer,” said Lengkeek. “I look forward to writing the next chapter of Seabee history with you.”
Lengkeek was commissioned in 1995 with his first command being Naval Air Station Lemoore, Calif. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering from The Pennsylvania State University and a Master of Science in Civil Engineering from Stanford University.
In addition to serving in Lemoore, Lengkeek served with Naval Support Facility Diego Garcia, NMCB 3 in Port Hueneme, California, 1st Naval Construction Division in Virginia Beach, Virginia, Naval Station Rota, Spain, Camp Lemonnier, Djibouti, Commander Navy Installations Command, Washington, where he served on the Shore Investment Strategy Task Force developing the Chief of Naval Operation’s Shore Investment Strategic Guidance, Amphibious Construction Battalion ONE in San Diego, as the Operations Officer, Naval Facilities Engineering Command Southwest also in San Diego, and the Navy Office of Legislative Affairs in Washington.
NMCB 4’s mission is to provide general engineering, disaster relief and humanitarian assistance, and civil support to Navy, Marine Corps and Joint operational forces through planned deployments and crisis response.
For more information about NMCB 4 visit www.public.navy.mil/necc/1ncd/Pages/NMCB4/default.aspx or www.facebook.com/NMCB4 for up-to-date news.
| Date Taken: | 06.12.2014 |
| Date Posted: | 06.17.2014 11:31 |
| Story ID: | 133358 |
| Location: | PORT HUENEME, CA, US |
| Web Views: | 206 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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