PITTSBURGH (Aug. 20, 2026) - Navy Talent Acquisition Group (NTAG) Pittsburgh held a change of command ceremony Aug 20, 2026. Cmdr. Timothy C. Washburn was relieved by Cmdr. William L. Marden as commanding officer.
Capt. David Terry, executive secretary to the Acting Secretary of the Navy, was the keynote speaker, and Capt. Todd S. Levant, Commodore for Navy Recruiting Region East in Millington, Tennessee, officiated the transfer of command. The event was held at the historic Soldiers and Sailors Memorial Hall and Museum in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
The change of command ceremony is when authority and responsibility for a unit and its people is formally transferred from one person to another. It helps everyone acknowledge and recognize the magnitude of what it means to take command.
Under Washburn’s command, NTAG Pittsburgh attained new levels of recruiting success, enlisting or commissioning over 1800 individuals for naval service. NTAG Pittsburgh Sailors gained national awards and recognition including National Divisional Leading Chief Petty Officer of the Year and National Classifier of the Year.
“Cmdr. Washburn’s vision, leadership and personal commitment completely transformed a historically challenging recruiting district into a powerhouse of success,” Terry said. “You methodically built upon the foundation you laid as executive officer to foster a winning atmosphere and a relentless pursuit of excellence.”
Cmdr. William L. Marden commissioned through the Pennsylvania State University Naval Reserve Officers Training Corps program in 2005. Marden, served as executive officer of NTAG Pittsburgh prior to taking command, and will now lead more than 150 Sailors and civilian personnel in over 40 Navy recruiting stations and four military entrance processing stations.
Washburn welcomed Marden to his new role, and thanked him for his tenure as executive officer of NTAG Pittsburgh.
“A central Pennsylvania native, and Nittany Lion, one cannot manufacture a better fit for the job,” Washburn said. “I am excited to see you leave this command in a better place than you found it.”
During his speech, Marden reflected on his career, thanked his family for their support, and praised the Sailors that served alongside him during his tenure as executive officer at NTAG Pittsburgh.
“To the extraordinary Sailors and civilians who make up NTAG Pittsburgh, you have impressed me every single day,” Marden said. “Your resilience, your grit, and your sheer determination are unmatched. I am immensely proud to serve alongside you and to have achieved our vital mission by your side.”
NTAG Pittsburgh, part of Navy Recruiting Command, recruits the next generation of Navy Sailors throughout areas in Pennsylvania, New York, West Virginia, and Maryland.