Photo By Petty Officer 1st Class Louis Lea | KEKAHA, Hawaii (June 5, 2025) Capt. Brett Stevenson, outgoing commanding officer of...... read more read more
PACIFIC MISSILE RANGE FACILITY, Hawaii – The Pacific Missile Range Facility, Barking Sands, (PMRF) held a change of command ceremony on June 5, 2025. Capt. Robert A. Prince relieved Captain Brett A. Stevenson as Commanding Officer of PMRF. The ceremony is a time-honored naval tradition and serves as a visual representation of this important transfer of authority, emphasizing the continuity of leadership and unity at PMRF.
Rear Admiral Stephen D. Barnett, Commander, Navy Region Hawaii recognized Captain Stevenson’s distinguished service as Commanding Officer, citing his exceptional leadership and dedication to the command, its people and the community.
“Captain Stevenson led a team that improved navy, joint and allied forces’ warfighting capabilities through unmatched training and testing,” said Barnett. “That is just one of many areas of success. Capt. Stevenson’s commitment to the overall health and wellbeing of sailors, their families, and everyone who works at PMRF cannot be overstated. What is even more impactful is Capt. Stevenson’s passion – not just passion for his work – but also for the environment, the land, the culture, and the community. Capt. Stevenson and the PMRF team take great pride in their role as caretakers of the cultural and natural resources entrusted to them. I have the utmost confidence in Capt. Prince to continue this great legacy and raise the bar for a culture of excellence, ready warfighters and committed members of the community.”
Stevenson thanked his family, friends and the entire PMRF team for their support, trust and dedication to duty. Stevenson added that Kauai is unique to anywhere he had served during his 35 years in the Navy.
“My time here has been incredibly rewarding,” said Capt. Stevenson. “The kindness and support that this community has shown me is unparalleled. Capt. Prince, you’re going to develop relationships here that will last for the rest of your life. The connections I’ve made here have engrained in me my kuleana (responsibility) to the aina (land), our ohana (family) and the safety of not only our great nation at large but also the families right here on Kauai. I am proud to say that I am not giving up my kuleana (responsibility),but sharing it with my successor Capt. Prince.”
Capt. Prince is reporting from Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan, where he served as the Chief of Staff for the installation.
“I am excited for the opportunity to serve as the Commanding Officer at PMRF,” said Prince. “It is an honor to serve at a command that is so embedded in the local community while being the keystone in maintaining our status as the greatest fighting force the world has ever seen. I look forward to strengthening the bonds PMRF has formed with our community, our allies and our partners.”
Attending dignitaries and special guests included congressional staff members from U.S. Senator Brian Schatz’s office and from U.S. Senator Mazie Hirono’s office, Kauai County Council members, and Mayor Derek Kawakami.
“It was an honor to join our partners at PMRF for today’s ceremony—one that symbolizes the strength of leadership and the deep bonds between our military and our community,” said Mayor Derek S.K. Kawakami. “Captain Stevenson leaves behind a legacy of excellence and collaboration that has made a lasting impact on Kauai. On behalf of the County of Kauai and the Office of the Mayor, we extend our heartfelt mahalo and best wishes on your retirement. To Captain Prince, we welcome you with aloha and look forward to continuing this vital partnership as we work together to safeguard our island and support the people who call it home.”
Captain Stevenson’s retired after 35 years of distinguished service following the change of command.
PMRF is the world’s largest instrumented multi-domain training and testing facility with the unique ability to simultaneously support surface, subsurface, air, and space operations. The PMRF Navy team engages and actively participates with the community and native Hawaiian organizations, consulting and communicating with local leaders on issues like environmental and cultural stewardship, access, and educational outreach. The PMRF team takes great pride in being caretakers of the cultural and natural resources they are entrusted with. PMRF is the largest high-tech employer and third largest employer overall on Kauai with nearly 1,000 permanent staff.
| Date Taken: | 06.05.2025 |
| Date Posted: | 06.05.2025 20:01 |
| Story ID: | 499794 |
| Location: | KEKAHA, HAWAII, US |
| Web Views: | 78 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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