Monterey Holds Change of Command

NORFOLK, VA, UNITED STATES

03.08.2019

Courtesy Story

Carrier Strike Group 10

USS Monterey (CG 61) held a change of command ceremony at the Joint Forces Staff College’s Normandy Hall, March 8.
Capt. Anthony Littmann relieved Capt. Dave Stoner and assumed duties as the commanding officer of the Ticonderoga-class guided missile cruiser in a ceremony attended by distinguished visitors, family and crew.
Rear Adm. John Meier, the commander of Carrier Strike Group (CSG) 10, spoke about Stoner’s leadership acumen and immense contributions to the strike group team.
"The two attributes that I gauge people on are the quality of their work and the content of their character and Capt. Stoner is off the scale on both," said Meier. "His sense of urgency was instrumental in keeping Monterey ready to answer the call, and they did."

Stoner, an Ansonia, Connecticut, native, enlisted in the Navy in 1986 as a machinist’s mate. He reached the rank of chief petty officer before commissioning as part of the inaugural class of the Seaman to Admiral Program in 1995.
He assumed command of Monterey in June 2017.
While in command, Stoner led Monterey through a seven-and-a-half month surge deployment to the U.S. 5th and 6th Fleet areas of operation.
In his remarks, Stoner credited the success of his tour to the hard work and dedication of the officers and enlisted personnel aboard Monterey.
"It's not about me today. It's about team Monterey and the things we have done together over the past 21 months," said Stoner. "I know that I am turning this command over to a great officer."

As a final gesture to the crew, Stoner meritoriously promoted seven Sailors.

He reports next to the Center for Surface Combat Systems in Dahlgren, Virginia.
Littmann, a native of Port Monmouth, New Jersey, graduated from Texas A&M University in 1996. He assumed command of Monterey following assignments in Pearl Harbor, Hawai’i. Littmann’s sea duty includes serving as the weapons officer and combat systems officer on USS Barry (DDG 52), and as the combat systems officer on the Pre-Commissioning Unit (PCU) Forrest Sherman (DDG 98). Ashore, he spent time at United States Strategic Command in Omaha, Nebraska, and was the director for trainers and simulations at the Surface Warfare Officers School in Newport, Rhode Island. Prior to arriving aboard Monterey, Littmann served as executive officer and then commanding officer of USS Chaffee (DDG 90). Chaffee’s crew earned three consecutive Battle Efficiency Awards during his time aboard.
"I am so very grateful to join the legacy of Monterey Sailors and commanding officers," said Littmann. "Together we will make Monterey rough in battle and ready always."

Monterey is undergoing planned shipyard work while in the maintenance phase of the optimized fleet response plan. The ship serves as the ballistic missile defense commander for CSG 10.
For more news from USS Monterey visit https://www.public.navy.mil/surflant/cg61 or https://www.facebook.com/USSMonterey

• Date Taken: 03.08.2019
• Date Posted: 03.11.2019 10:09
• Story ID: 313787
• Location: NORFOLK, VA, US