Photo By Gail Davis | Incoming Naval Surface Warfare Center, Port Hueneme Division (NSWC PHD)’s White...... read more read more
Subscribe
Naval Surface Warfare Center, Port Hueneme Division (NSWC PHD)’s White Sands Detachment (WSD) bid farewell to its outgoing officer in charge (OIC) and welcomed its new OIC, a native of New Mexico, at a change-of-charge ceremony on Aug. 1 at White Sands Missile Range (WSMR) in New Mexico.
Staff, dignitaries and family gathered for the event, in which NSWC PHD Commanding Officer Capt. Tony Holmes spoke on WSD’s vital contributions to the work of the command — including testing naval weapons, assembling missiles, building targets and launching sounding rockets.
Holmes also commended outgoing OIC Cmdr. Adrian Laney on his accomplishments.
“Commander Laney has established WSD as the Navy’s subject matter expert for land-based launchers and suborbital vehicles,” Holmes said. “As you leave the desert for a new Potomac River view, we wish you fair winds and following seas.”
Holmes also welcomed the incoming OIC Cmdr. Patrick Smith and shared with the audience some of Smith’s achievements.
“He brings a strong background in some of this detachment’s core functions, and he understands the Navy’s need for urgency and readiness,” Holmes said of Smith. “Welcome to team White Sands, and welcome to team PHD. We are fortunate to serve with you.”
Holmes awarded Laney the Meritorious Service Award for his service at WSD. Laney thanked Holmes, thanked the people of WSD and welcomed Smith.
“Patrick, your future is bright,” Laney said of Smith. “This detachment is awesome, and you are the right person to lead it into the future.”
Then, in keeping with the U.S. Navy’s longstanding tradition of the change-of-charge ceremony, Laney, as the officer being relieved, delivered his formal reading of orders. Next, Smith, as relieving officer, gave his reading of orders and assumed charge of WSD.
Smith said he looks forward to assuming leadership of WSD.
“The work you’ve done here has played a key role in keeping the seas open to commerce, saving millions of innocent lives and protecting our most valuable naval resource, our Sailors, from harm,” Smith said. “I’m excited to join all of you.”
Laney’s connections to NSWC PHD predate his time as WSD OIC. He spent time a decade ago at Port Hueneme as an engineering duty officer (EDO) supporting Combat System Ship Qualification Trials (CSSQTs).
Laney began his naval career in 2000 as an electronics technician and while still in training was accepted into a commissioning program. Commissioned in 2007, Laney served on Arleigh Burke-class destroyer USS Momsen (DDG 92), where he transferred to the EDO community and enrolled in the Naval Postgraduate School in Monterey, California, and earned a master’s degree in physics. He then reported to NSWC PHD, where he led a successful CSSQT aboard a Republic of Korea Aegis destroyer and supported multiple Aegis Combat System and Standard Missile (SM)-6 test events.
He also served in Australia, where he was responsible for overseeing that the Aegis system was successfully installed on Australia’s Hobart-class destroyers and underwent proper testing.
In March 2019, he reported to the Missile Defense Agency (MDA), where he served as the product manager for the SM-3 Block IIA, the Navy’s most capable exoatmospheric ballistic missile interceptor.
Since coming to WSD in 2022, Laney established WSD as the Navy’s subject matter expert for land-based launchers and suborbital vehicles and boosted the ability of the detachment’s Missile Assembly Facility to build flight test rounds and advanced the Desert Ship’s capability to enable Live, Virtual, Constructive testing between WSMR and other labs and ranges.
Under his watch, WSD supported multiple landmark missile firings and hypersonic missions with multiple partners, including during multinational fleet exercises.
“It is his accomplishments here at White Sands Detachment that will truly be his lasting legacy with our command,” Holmes said at the ceremony about Laney. “His relentless pursuit of excellence and readiness has reshaped White Sands Detachment for the better.”
Laney next moves to the MDA in Dahlgren, Virginia.
Smith’s tour as WSD OIC brings him home to his native state. He was commissioned in 2009 through the Naval Reserve Officers Training Corps, and in 2011 transferred to the EDO community. That year, he reported to the Naval Postgraduate School, where he earned a master’s degree in physics.
As an EDO, Smith’s previous assignments include: assistant project superintendent for USS Maryland’s (SSBN 738) engineered refueling overhaul and shipyard docking officer at Norfolk Naval Shipyard in Virginia; AEGIS operational test director at Commander, Operational Test and Evaluation Force in Norfolk, Virginia; AEGIS modernization test officer at Mid-Atlantic Regional Maintenance Center in Norfolk, Virginia, and SM-3 production and sustainment lead and SM-3 Block IIA deputy product manager at MDA.
| Date Taken: | 08.08.2025 |
| Date Posted: | 08.11.2025 12:36 |
| Story ID: | 545254 |
| Location: | WHITE SANDS MISSILE RANGE, NEW MEXICO, US |
| Web Views: | 60 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
This work, Warfare Center Undergoes Change of Charge, by Gail Davis, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
Port Hueneme
