USS Oakland (LCS 24) Gold Crew holds Assumption of Command Ceremony

Photo By Petty Officer 1st Class Vance Hand | NAVAL BASE SAN DEGO (Oct. 1, 2021) Cmdr. William Carroll, commanding officer of the Independence-variant littoral combat ship USS Oakland (LCS 24) Gold Crew delivers remarks during a pier-side assumption of command ceremony onboard Naval Base San Diego. The Littoral Combat Ship is a fast, agile, mission-focused platform designed to operate in near-shore environments, winning against 21st-century coastal threats. LCS are capable of supporting forward presence, maritime security, sea control, and deterrence. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Vance Hand/Released)  

SAN DIEGO, CA, UNITED STATES

10.01.2021

Story by Petty Officer 2nd Class Vance Hand 

Commander, Littoral Combat Ship Squadron 1

NAVAL BASE SAN DIEGO (Oct. 1, 2021) Cmdr. William Carroll assumed command of Independence-variant littoral combat Ship USS Oakland (LCS 24) Gold Crew during an assumption of command ceremony Oct. 1, on board Naval Base San Diego.

Carroll was previously assigned as the executive officer aboard Freedom-variant littoral combat ship USS Fort Worth (LCS 3) before assuming command of Oakland Gold Crew.

“It is an incredible honor to be the first commanding officer of OAKLAND Gold,” said Carroll. “Every day will bring new challenges as we build the command and train for deployment. I have the utmost faith in the crew to build an indomitable will that will enable us to meet any challenge head.”

Carroll completes the command triad with Cmdr. Andrew Laidler as executive officer and Command Senior Chief Blake Wohl as the senior enlisted leader. Laidler praised the work of Oakland Gold Sailors and getting to this point.

“The crew and I could not be more excited to have our commanding officer onboard with us now,” said Laidler. “The sailors of Oakland Gold crew have worked tirelessly over the last year to complete schools, training, and certifications to be ready to take the hull. Today we are one step closer to achieving that goal.”

Oakland Gold Crew is preparing to complete their basic phase certification later this year.

LCS are high-speed, agile, shallow draft, mission-focused surface combatants designed for operations in the littoral environment, yet fully capable of open ocean operations. As part of the surface fleet. LCS has the ability to counter and outpace evolving threats independently or within a network of surface combatants.

• Date Taken: 10.01.2021
• Date Posted: 10.01.2021 15:57
• Story ID: 406547
• Location: SAN DIEGO, CA, US