VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. - Explosive Ordnance Disposal Expeditionary Support Unit 2 held a change of command ceremony on Joint Expeditionary Base Little Creek-Fort Story, July 11. During the ceremony, Cmdr. Milton W. Troy, III relieved Cmdr. Jeffery T. Rathbun as commanding officer of EODESU 2.
"I'm incredibly reluctant to relinquish command of ESU 2," said Rathbun. "A command full of people I admire, enjoy working with and who have taught me so much about what it is to be a leader."
Before assuming command of EODESU 2 in July 2011, Rathbun had previously served as force supply naval readiness officer for Naval Surface Force Atlantic and executive officer of U.S. Fleet and Industrial Supply Center Yokosuka, Japan.
Rear Adm. Vincent L. Griffith, deputy chief of staff for Fleet Ordnance and Supply and the Fleet Supply Officer on the staff of Commander, U.S. Fleet Forces Command, Norfolk, Va., was the guest speaker for the ceremony and spoke to the crowd of over 100 service members, civilians, families and friends.
"A command tour is a defining achievement of an officer's career. It's the ultimate vote of confidence by one's superior officers and a job of immense personal satisfaction as well as unrelenting pressure," said Griffith. "Jeff's time here is a benchmark of success that each of us can measure against ourselves."
Rathbun enlisted in the Navy in 1983 as a Yeoman and was selected for the Enlisted Commissioning Program in 1989 after working in the White House. Rathbun graduated from the University of Arizona in 1991 with a Bachelor of Science in Business Management and was subsequently accessed into the Navy Supply Corps.
"As I look back at my tenure at ESU 2 I'm going to remember and take with me some special moments, your operational excellence and your innovation," said Rathbun. "This tour without question has been the most personally and professionally rewarding tour in my 29 years of service."
Troy received his commission through the Naval Reserve Officer Training Corps Program at Morehouse College in Atlanta, in May 1995.
"It is an absolute privilege and honor to serve as your commanding officer," said Troy. "It is my personal pledge to each of you to continue what you all have started in leading the way in maximizing the agile EOD war fighting capabilities while being admired by our fellow shipmates as being the most sought after command in the Navy.
EODESU2 provides logistical support for all East Coast EOD and diving salvage units including supply, ordnance, transportation, tactical communications support, field services, facility maintenance and programming, weapons inventory control and repair, boat and engine maintenance and dive locker and hazardous material handling.
U.S. Navy EOD is the world's premier combat force for countering explosive hazards and conducting expeditionary diving and salvage.