GREAT LAKES, Ill. (January 24, 2020)— Surface Warfare Engineering School Command (SWESC) Great Lakes held a change of command ceremony Jan. 24.
Cmdr. Terrance Patterson was relieved by Cmdr. Shawn Gibson as the commanding officer in a ceremony attended by several hundred distinguished visitors, guests and staff including Surface Warfare Schools Command Commanding Officer Capt. Christopher Alexander.
“Absolutely enjoyed serving my Staff and their families. A real joy to be able to observe staff in developing our accession, journey and master level surface warriors and to award staff new qualifications and personal awards and to see them advance to their next paygrade. A true privilege and honor to lead and serve as Commanding Officer, SWESC," said Patterson.
Patterson assumed command of SWESC in Sept. 2017 and empowered his staff, watching them take ownership and run with it. SWESC developed new command strategies and tactical goals, executed and made it happen. Once staff started and enjoyed levels of success – they just took off leading from the front and it became their norm.
“I admire my staff’s superb leadership, outstanding engagement, unquestionable drive and real passion for their work,” Patterson said. “They never waiver and have truly demonstrated extreme dedication in carrying out their assigned duties. They are the Navy’s “best of the best” to include their families. Mrs. Malia Patterson and I were very fortunate to spend time with the staff and their families during my command tour. We thoroughly enjoyed their company during command functions. We will miss all of staff and families dearly – I wish them the very best.”
Gibson was aboard SWESC Great Lakes for the past month seeing first-hand the staff at work training Sailors for the fleet.
“The total amount of training conducted at SWESC Great Lakes is staggering,” Gibson said. “I see the motivation that is driven by the outstanding Sailors and am honored to have the opportunity to work alongside them every day to impact the Navy’s mission. It is a privilege and I am excited to watch the development of all the Sailors.”
A native of Gainesville, Georgia, Gibson enlisted in the U.S. Navy in June 1987 and promoted through the ranks to chief petty officer prior to being commissioned under the Limited Duty Officer Program in 2001.
His sea duty assignments include: USS Richmond K. Turner (CG 20); USS America (CV 66); USS Mount Whitney (LCC 20); Commander Amphibious Group 2; main propulsion assistant, USS Tortuga (LSD 46); chief engineer, USS Typhoon (PC 5); main propulsion assistant, USS Wasp (LHD 1); chief engineer, USS Arlington (LPD 24); and chief engineer, USS Wasp (LHD 1).
Ashore, Gibson served as an instructor at the submarine firefighting trainer in Groton, Connecticut, Patrol Costal Maintenance Support Team; officer in charge at President of Board and Inspection Survey, and commanding officer of Mid-Atlantic Regional Maintenance Center's Dynamic (AFDL 6) dry-dock at Joint Expeditionary Base Little Creek-Fort Story, Virginia.
Gibson’s personal awards include the Meritorious Service Medal, Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal (six awards), Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal (six awards), and various other unit awards.
| Date Taken: | 01.24.2020 |
| Date Posted: | 01.28.2020 11:03 |
| Story ID: | 360654 |
| Location: | GREAT LAKES, IL, US |
| Web Views: | 134 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
This work, SWESC Great Lakes Holds Change of Command Ceremony, by Brian Walsh, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
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