SAN DIEGO – U.S. Navy Cmdr. Meghan Gray was relieved by U.S. Navy Cmdr. Daniel Hooge as commanding officer of the Independence-variant littoral combat ship USS Charleston (LCS 18) during a change of command ceremony held onboard the flight deck, Aug, 21. U.S. Navy Capt. Wayne Gehman, deputy commodore, Littoral Combat Ship Squadron (LCSRON) One, was the presiding officer and U.S. Navy Cmdr. Nellie Wang, chief staff officer, LCSRON One, was the guest speaker at the ceremony. During Gray’s time in command, Charleston conducted pre-deployment continuous maintenance availability (CMAV) and was recognized as the gold standard for supply and food service management from the Logistics Support Team (LST), the unmatched 3M program rigor highlighted by Commander, Naval Surface Force (CNSP) and Afloat Training Group (ATG), the razor-sharp preparedness for training events and exercises demanded by ATG and Naval Surface and Mine Warfighting Development Center (SMWDC). During the ceremony, Gehman awarded Gray the Meritorious Service Medal for her superior accomplishments throughout her tenure as commanding officer. Gray will be reporting to Fifth Fleet Maritime Operations Center as the Operations Director. “Anyone who knows Meghan knows she is wonderfully animated, highly expressive, and fiercely passionate, that fire always comes from the absolute best place: rooted entirely in a profound love for her warship and an unwavering dedication to her Sailors,” said Wang. “You led these River Dogs standing here today with an unwavering dedication, you didn't just meet the standard; you stepped up and redefined what our Independence-variant warships are capable of.” Gray, a native of St. Louis, attended the University of Southern California where she received her commission as a Surface Warfare Officer through the ROTC program and earned her Bachelors of Science degree in Geological Sciences with a minor in Environmental Engineering. “Greatness will cost you sleep, it will cost you comfort, it will cost you time away from family and friends, it will cost you being liked by everybody, and the truth is most people are not willing to pay it,” said Gray. “One of my favorite quotes, 'the ultimate measure of a person, is not where they stand in moments of comfort and convenience, but where they stand at times of challenge and controversy.'” Charleston is homeported in San Diego and assigned to Littoral Combat Ship Squadron One. Littoral combat ships are fast, optimally manned, mission-tailored surface combatants that operate in near-shore and open-ocean environments, winning against 21st-century threats. LCS integrate with joint, combined, manned and unmanned teams to support forward-presence, maritime security, sea control, and deterrence missions around the globe.
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