Photo By Petty Officer 1st Class Brigitte Johnston | GREAT LAKES, Il. (May 7, 2021) Capt. Jason WIlliamson, commanding officer, Naval...... read more read more
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GREAT LAKES, Ill. - Capt. Jason Williamson relieved Capt. Raymond Leung as Commanding Officer of Naval Station Great Lakes during a change of command ceremony on the morning of May 7. The ceremony took place aboard the installation at Ross Theater on the mainside of the installation. Rear Adm. Charles Rock, Commander, Navy Region Mid-Atlantic, served as the guest speaker.
Leung served as Naval Station Great Lakes Commanding Officer from May 2018 to May 2021. Faced with the unprecedented challenges associated with the COVID-19 pandemic, Leung inspired the command to innovatively execute critical services that ensured the uninterrupted annual training of 39,000 recruits to Sailors and the training of 11,000 enlisted surface warfare specialists in direct support of the Navy’s directive to maintain and protect the Navy’s accessions supply chain.
Earlier in his tenure, Leung led the base in continuing operations during the 2019 polar vortex, when wind chill temperatures dropped to 56 below zero. Under his leadership, Great Lakes earned nominations from Commander, Navy Region Mid-Atlantic for the 2021 Installation Excellence Award and the 2020 Chief of Naval Operation Shore Safety Award. Leung received the Chicago Federal Executive Board 2020 John F. Kennedy Leadership Award.
Leung received the Legion of Merit for exceptionally meritorious conduct in the performance of outstanding service during his tour at Great Lakes.
“Great Lakes truly sets the standard for our Navy in the way we run a shore installation,” said Rock. “The center of our Navy universe uis the Sailor...and it all starts here.”
“Finally, I want to end the story telling and end my command tour here at Great lakes by saying I am still living the American Dream,” said Leung.
Williamson is a native of Yankton, South Dakota. He graduated from Boston University in May 1998 with a degree in BioMedical Engineering and was commissioned through the ROTC program. He was designated a Naval aviator in June 2000. His assignments at sea have spanned both coasts, serving operational flying tours with the P-3C Orion and the P-8A Poseidon squadrons. He has logged over 2700 hours in multiple fixed wing aircraft in support of the Maritime Patrol missions.
As the new commanding officer, Williamson has the responsibility of providing base operating support to over 50 tenant commands, including Recruit Training Command, the Navy's only boot camp. Naval Station Great Lakes is also home to 80 percent of the Navy's surface warfare specialty training. Naval Station Great Lakes is the largest military installation in Illinois and the largest training station in the Navy. The installation includes 1,153 buildings with 39 on the National Register of Historic Places. Naval Station Great Lakes sits on 1,900 acres and uses 50 miles of roadway to provide access to the station’s facilities.
“To the staff of Naval Station Great Lakes -- and I emphasize the word great,” said Williamson. “You personify the values of greatness with a commitment to people, mission, and message. I am very excited and blessed to set sail with you on our next leg of our journey.”
For additional information about Naval Station Great Lakes, visit the installation’s news page at https://www.dvidshub.net/unit/NSGLPA.
| Date Taken: | 05.07.2021 |
| Date Posted: | 05.07.2021 13:26 |
| Story ID: | 395921 |
| Location: | GREAT LAKES, IL, US |
| Hometown: | CHICAGO, IL, US |
| Hometown: | YANKTON, SD, US |
| Web Views: | 937 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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Naval Station Great Lakes
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