Photo By Petty Officer 1st Class Timothy Walter | 171214-N-FU443-0135 MURFREESBORO, Tenn. (Dec. 14, 2017) Capt. William T. Cox, left,...... read more read more
Navy Recruiting District Nashville held a change of command ceremony at River Oaks Community Church, December 14.
During the ceremony, Cmdr. Tonrey Ford relieved Cmdr. Todd Sullivan as commanding officer.
While serving as the commanding officer of NRD Nashville, Sullivan led a team of more than 150 sailors and civilians to successfully recruit nearly 1,800 enlisted sailors and commissioned officers.
Capt. William T. Cox, Jr., commander of Navy Recruiting Region East, was the presiding officer. Cox presented Sullivan with the Meritorious Service Medal for outstanding achievement as commanding officer. He was recognized for ensuring the welfare and mission readiness among more than 30 stations in six states.
Sullivan thanked all those who supported him throughout his career and congratulated Ford on achieving this level of trusted responsibility.
“Team Nashville has been, and will remain, an innovation leader in our recruiting enterprise. With a shrinking sales force, we have leveraged technology and social media to help recruit the highest caliber of young men and women for naval service throughout our communities. I am extremely proud to have served with so many fine officers, chiefs, sailors, and civilians here. It has been a blessing and an honor. I cannot imagine a better team anywhere in our military. I look forward to seeing this command continue its success under Skipper Ford’s leadership,” said Sullivan.
Immediately following the change of command, Sullivan retired after 30 years of naval service.
Commander Sullivan is a native of Rockford, Ill., and he enlisted in the U.S. Navy in March of 1988. He served as an enlisted submariner and was initiated as a Chief Petty Officer in September 1996. He earned his commission June 1, 1999, via the Limited Duty Officer Program as a Supply Corps Officer and later laterally transferred to the Human Resources Officer Community. He has earned a Master’s of Science Degree in Management.
Ford, who has served as the executive officer of NRD Nashville since May 2016, said it is an honor to be assigned a naval command and it is a duty that he holds in the highest regard. He became the 18th commanding officer to lead NRD Nashville, since it was reestablished in 1996.
"Nashville has been a leader in the recruiting community and I aim to continue that success thanks to the dedication and skillful work of the many Sailors and civilians who make this command unique," said Ford.
Cmdr. Ford was born in Nashville and raised in Morristown and Cleveland, Tenn. He enlisted in 1988 as an Operations Specialist. Ford later graduated from the University of Memphis with a degree in history and minors in chemistry and literature. He was commissioned out of Officer Candidate School in 1998.
In his first remarks as commanding officer, Ford addressed the command and thanked CDR Sullivan for his mentorship and expertise. He also acknowledged the great recruiting history and team in Nashville. Lastly, he stated that it is now our turn to make Nashville greater and better.
"Although this ceremony marks the transfer of command between two naval officers – I ask all of us to rededicate ourselves to the service of our great nation. Team Nashville, you have my full trust and confidence and I am excited to stand here today taking the helm of the greatest Navy command," he said.
NRD Nashville is one of 12 districts which make up Navy Recruiting Region East. More than 100,000 square miles are assigned to NRD Nashville including counties in Tennessee, Arkansas, northern Alabama, northern Georgia, northern Mississippi, southern Kentucky and Southwestern Virginia.
For more information on NRD Nashville, visit us at http://www.cnrc.navy.mil/nashville/ or on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/NRD.Nashville
| Date Taken: | 12.14.2017 |
| Date Posted: | 12.15.2017 16:22 |
| Story ID: | 259146 |
| Location: | MURFREESBORO, TN, US |
| Hometown: | CLEVELAND, TN, US |
| Hometown: | MORRISTOWN, TN, US |
| Hometown: | NASHVILLE, TN, US |
| Hometown: | ROCKFORD, IL, US |
| Web Views: | 230 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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