By: Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Amy Taylor, Navy Region Southeast Reserve Component Command Public Affairs
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Navy Region Southeast Reserve Component Command Jacksonville (NRSE RCC JAX) held a change of command and retirement ceremony at Naval Air Station Jacksonville Aug. 2, 2019.
Capt. Dale W. Maxey relieved Capt. Jay A. Gagne as commander, NRSE RCC Jacksonville.
As the guest speaker, Rear Adm. Thomas W. Luscher, commander, Navy Reserve Forces Command commented on Gagne’s dedication and leadership abilities.
“Capt Gagne’s performance as commander of this region has been superb,” said Luscher. “He guided his commanding officers and staff through a difficult hurricane season in 2017 that ravaged the southeast United States and Puerto Rico. Homer [Gagne] and his team provided critical relief support to 6,500 effected Sailors and their families from 12 different NOSCs. He also spearheaded the expert planning and execution of the Chief of Naval Operation’s directives for more lethal operational support to the fleet while embracing our ready to win initiative.
Under Gagne’s command, NRSE RCC mobilized more than 1,000 Selected Reservists to locations around the world. As part of the ongoing process to take care of both the Sailors and their families, Gagne and the Yellow Ribbon Team conducted a combine 21 Deployment Readiness Training events and Returning Warrior Workshops.
Gagne, a Cliff Island, Maine native, served his country at home and abroad, to include numerous FDNF deployments on the USS Independence (CV 62) and USS Kitty Hawk (CV 63), as well as six deployments to Iraq flying as a helicopter Mission Commander supporting Special Operations missions. He formerly served as Commanding Officer of Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron Eight Five (HSC-85) in San Diego and two tours in Washington D.C, at the Pentagon. He was recognized for more than 27 years of dedicated service to the Navy and most recently for his leadership of RCC Jacksonville and the 19 Navy Operational Support Centers (NOSC) in his region.
“Serving as the Commander of RCC Jacksonville has truly been an honor for me personally, and a pleasure to work with so many dedicated Sailors and civilians over the last 2 plus years,” said Gagne. “We have thousands of very good people working very hard to maintain a high state of readiness in support of our Navy and joint operations around the world. My sincere appreciation goes out to all the members of my staff, the leaders of our 19 NOSCs around the region, and all I have served with over the course of my career. I will truly miss all I have served with and wish them nothing but the best going forward.”
During the ceremony, Gagne thanked his family and friends, the RCC staff and his 19 NOSC commanding officers, senior enlisted leaders and their Sailors. He also welcomed Captain Maxey and wished him well.
Maxey, a native of Illinois, enlisted in the Navy in 1982. He was assigned to Naval Air Station Sigonella, Italy. During a subsequent tour at Commander, Task Force 67 (CTF-67) in Naples, Italy, he was selected for the Enlisted Commissioning Program and graduated from the University of Illinois in December 1991. Over his thirty-six years of naval service, Maxey has served on 7 ships, deployed 9 times and served at multiple commands ashore. He most recently relinquished command of Naval Surface Squadron 14 in Mayport, Florida.
| Date Taken: | 08.02.2019 |
| Date Posted: | 08.11.2019 15:54 |
| Story ID: | 335452 |
| Location: | JACKSONVILLE, FL, US |
| Hometown: | CLIFF ISLAND, ME, US |
| Web Views: | 278 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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