Photo By Spc. Eric Liesse | Navy Rear Adm. David M. Thomas, Jr., commander of Joint Task Force Guantanamo, gives a...... read more read more
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By Eric Liesse
Joint Task Force Guantanamo Public Affairs
GUANTANAMO BAY, Cuba – U.S. Navy Cmdr. Michael Fulgham officially took command of Joint Task Force Guantanamo's Naval Expeditionary Guard Battalion, Sept. 5, 2008, in a ceremony at Troopers Chapel.
NEGB's outgoing commanding officer, Navy Cmdr. Jeffrey Hayhurst, spoke of what he'll remember most of his time leading the Battalion.
"I'll miss the pride and professionalism displayed by the guard force executing a unique and difficult mission," he said.
Hayhurst will not be off-island for long, however, as his next duty will be as Deputy Commander of the Joint Detention Group.
Present at the ceremony were both Navy Rear Adm. David M. Thomas, Jr., JTF commander, and Army Col. Bruce Vargo, JDG commander. After both Fulgham and Hayhurst read their orders for their next duties, in a light-hearted moment, Hayhurst presented Fulgham with the "true marks" of the NEGB commander: his mobile phone and "NEGB CO" name tag.
Fulgham will command the NEGB on its mission of safe, humane, legal and transparent care and custody of detained enemy combatants. Fulgham has detention command experience, formerly working as executive – then commanding – officer of U.S. Naval Consolidated Brig Miramar, San Diego, from July 2005 until March 2008.
"I was ready to get onboard and advocate and represent for the Sailors and Soldiers here," Fulgham said of hearing his orders for Guantanamo. He emphasized he plans to work for, rather than just over, the guards.
Fulgham expects a challenging job for his tenure as commanding officer of the NEGB, especially with the overt visibility and scrutiny JTF is consistently under.
"[We need to] make sure we keep doing what we need to do for the mission, and still make our adjustments, should we need to change," he said.
Fulgham's Navy career began in June 1989 as an Ensign through the Navy Reserve Officers Training Corps at the University of San Diego/San Diego State University. In March 1990, he graduated from the Surface Warfare Officers School's Division Officer Basic Course and Gas Turbine Engineering Officer of the Watch Course. Fulgham served as executive officer of USS Duluth, an amphibious transport dock, during a deployment to the Persian Gulf in support of Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom in October 2002.
Fulgham's past military awards include three Meritorious Service Medals, six Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medals, the Navy and Marine Cops Achievement Medal, as well as other unit awards.
| Date Taken: | 09.12.2008 |
| Date Posted: | 09.18.2008 15:41 |
| Story ID: | 23833 |
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| Web Views: | 321 |
| Downloads: | 249 |
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