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NORFOLK, Va. – Amphibious assault ship USS Bataan (LHD 5) received a new commanding officer during a change of command ceremony held onboard the ship, Nov. 10.
Capt. Bradley Busch relieved Capt. Eric Pfister, who served as Bataan's commanding officer since June 10, 2017.
“It has been the highest honor serving as the Bataan’s Commanding Officer,” said Pfister. “Seventeen months ago I stood at this podium, with a mile-wide grin excited at the prospect of assuming command; awed by the responsibility, but confident in the preparations the Navy provided me. Throughout my eight months of training prior to arriving to Bataan, at every turn I met people who had been Bataan Sailors, Bataan commanding officers or they worked with the Bataan all they echoed what a great ship this was.”
The guest speaker for the ceremony, Adm. Jeffrey Hughes, commander, Expeditionary Strike Group 2, spoke of the dedication and hard work the Bataan performed during a strenuous maintenance availability, work-up cycle and seven month deployment completing multiple bi-lateral exercises.
"Much of their work and the many successful outcomes didn’t make the 24-hour news cycle, but had great influence on our ability to preserve our national interests and meet our national objectives," remarked Hughes. "The accomplishments of the Bataan team are certainly remarkable, and as you would expect, they steam from strong leadership; leadership from leading petty officers, the chief’s mess, the wardroom and certainly from the commanding officer.”
Busch is a 1995 graduate from the United States Naval Academy; his previous assignment was serving as the assistant chief of staff for Manpower and Personnel at Commander, Naval Surface Force Atlantic.
“I am both excited and humble to take over. I look forward to building on the foundation of success that you have set,” addressed Busch. “To the crew of the Bataan, your hard work and dedication is recognized around the fleet. I am excited to get to work with you as we bring Bataan through this shipyard availability, and return her to the fleet in the best material condition possible, with a crew ready and willing to answer our nations call and complete any and all missions.”
Busch is the 15th commanding officer since Bataan’s commission in 1997. Bataan is undergoing a maintenance availability period at the BAE Systems Norfolk Ship Repair, in Portsmouth, Va.
| Date Taken: | 11.10.2017 |
| Date Posted: | 11.10.2017 14:05 |
| Story ID: | 254958 |
| Location: | NORFOLK, VA, US |
| Web Views: | 92 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
This work, Bataan Hosts Change of Command Ceremony, by CPO Kegan Kay, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
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