Photo By Cmdr. Jeffrey Gray | 250628-N-SI684-9201 Great Lakes, Ill. (Jun. 28, 2025) - In a moment both solemn and...... read more read more
Against the backdrop of the USS Whitehat, a shipboard simulator typically used for training Boatswain’s Mates in seamanship, an enduring naval ritual unfolded with solemn dignity. In the shadow of lifelines and cleats, Capt. Christopher Labissiere relinquished command of Navy Reserve Center (NRC) Great Lakes to Capt. Thomas Healy. Though symbolic in setting, the event signified far more than a change of command: it affirmed the Navy Reserve’s sharpening focus on warfighting readiness and rapid mobilization.
While the Whitehat ordinarily serves as a practical training platform, on this day it was repurposed as a ceremonial stage—a visible, steel-framed reminder of the seamanship, professionalism, and tradition at the heart of naval service. The Sailors gathered were not merely witnesses to a handoff of authority; they were spectators and heirs to a living legacy of leadership, discipline, and duty.
Capt. Labissiere’s command tour was marked by both precision and principle. Over a 25-month tour, he led more than 1,100 reservists across 44 units, executing over 250 mobilizations to combatant commands worldwide—none were canceled. Under his leadership, NRC Great Lakes improved processing speeds by 25 percent and sustained warfighting readiness above 93 percent, setting a benchmark for efficiency, accuracy, and preparedness across the reserve force.
Yet, his influence was not confined to just metrics. Drawing upon the scriptural counsel of James 3:17, “pure, peaceable, gentle, full of mercy”, Labissiere instilled a leadership culture defined by mutual respect, purposeful mentorship, and moral clarity. His guiding philosophy, “Just Lead”, became both a principle and a clarion call to action. “We owe each other more than just getting along,” he told his team in farewell. “We owe each other our best, regardless of rank, for the mission and for each other.”
That ethic produced measurable results: nearly 200 Sailors advanced in rate during his tenure, and retention climbed to 85.7 percent. But more telling was the cohesion, professionalism, and trust that flourished under his command. “The command didn’t just get better under Labissiere,” one observer noted. “He got better because of the command.”
Capt. Kerrie Chase, Commodore of Navy Reserve Readiness and Mobilization Command Great Lakes and the event’s presiding officer, captured that dual impact with unflinching clarity. “Chris has led with heart, conviction, and results,” she said. “He leaves behind a stronger command and a generation of professionals better for having served with him.” She praised his commitment to moral, mental, physical, and spiritual development, adding that under his leadership, NRC Great Lakes did more than support the Fleet—it helped shape the future of the Navy Reserve.
In recognition of his exceptionally meritorious service, Labissiere was awarded the Legion of Merit. But it was his parting words that resonated most: “You matter. You have taken the oath. You make a difference. And when you doubt that, call me.”
The change of command ceremony, set against the steel bulkheads and controlled precision of the USS Whitehat simulator, was more than mere pageantry. It symbolized the Navy Reserve’s evolution from a strategic reserve to a force in direct support of operational commands. As Vice Adm. Nancy Lacore, Chief of Navy Reserve, affirmed in her 2025 Navy Reserve Strategic Advantage, “Our Sailors, operational units, and readiness units of action are our weapons system. We must be ready on Day One.”
Capt. Healy stepped into command with humility and quiet resolve. “This isn’t about me,” he told the assembled Sailors. “It’s about the mission and the people who carry it out.” A 27-year Navy veteran, Healy expressed gratitude for the warm welcome extended by the command and affirmed his commitment to sustaining the culture of excellence shaped under Capt. Labissiere.
“The world is not growing more stable,” Healy noted. “Our charge is to be ready for mass mobilization, for warfighting, for whatever comes next.” His focus on “honesty at all costs” echoed the Navy’s core values—honor, courage, and commitment—and underscored a command philosophy rooted in integrity, transparency, and trust.
Addressing his new team with clarity and conviction, Healy was direct: “I do not expect perfection,” he said. “But I expect truth—truth with ourselves, with each other, and with the mission.”
As the benediction closed and the official party departed, what lingered was not the ritual but the resolve. The Sailors who stood aboard the Whitehat, and those they lead, support, and deploy, are no longer merely preparing. They are part of a force ready, relevant, and resolute.
The Navy Reserve is no longer waiting in the wings. It is integrated, energized, and essential. From Great Lakes to every theater of operations, the citizen-Sailor stands the watch—ready not someday, but today.
| Date Taken: | 07.03.2025 |
| Date Posted: | 07.03.2025 11:04 |
| Story ID: | 503794 |
| Location: | GREAT LAKES, ILLINOIS, US |
| Web Views: | 34 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
This work, Passing the Torch, Holding the Line: Command Changes Hands at Navy Reserve Center Great Lakes, by CDR Jeffrey Gray, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
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