JOINT BASE PEARL HARBOR-HICKAM, Hawaii - Cdr. Robert “Bobby” M. Wayland was relieved by Cdr. Andrew T. Stafford as commanding officer of the Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS William P. Lawrence (DDG 110) during a change of command ceremony at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, Hawaii, Dec. 11, 2025.
“I feel honored to have served as your executive officer and honored further to serve as your commanding officer” said Cdr. Stafford.
Cdr. Stafford is a native of Duncan, Oklahoma. He graduated from the United States Naval Academy in 2008 with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Chemistry. Afterwards, he attended the Naval Postgraduate School where he graduated with a Master’s Degree in Eurasian Security.
Previously, Cdr. Stafford served as the executive officer of William P. Lawrence and acted as the senior military advisor to the Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights and Labor Affairs.
Cdr. Wayland, a native of Massachusetts, enlisted in the Navy as a cryptologic technician administrative in 2001. He was later admitted to the United States Naval Academy and graduated in 2006 with a Bachelor of Science Degree in English.
He previously served as the Tomahawk mission planner on the staff of Commander, US Sixth Fleet and as a junior military advisor to the U.S. Secretary of the Navy. Afloat, he served as the executive officer of William P. Lawrence before taking command in April 2024.
“Serving with the Sailors of William P. Lawrence has been the highlight of my career. Across two deployments, 588 days at sea and operational success, this crew has demonstrated the dominance of the U.S. Navy” said Cdr. Wayland, as he reflects on his time aboard.
Commissioned in 2011, William P. Lawrence is the 60th Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer named in honor of Navy Vice Adm. William P. Lawrence. Vice Adm. Lawrence was taken as a prisoner of war during the Vietnam War from 1967 until 1973. Vice Adm. Lawrence’s leadership guided many warfighters through challenging times and was among the 591 American prisoners of war released during Operation Homecoming in 1973.