NORFOLK – In a time-honored tradition, Capt. James A. Quaresimo, the first commanding officer of USS Fort Lauderdale (LPD 28), was relieved by Capt. Gill McCarthy during a change of command ceremony attended by Navy leadership, family, friends and the crew aboard the ship while in port Naval Station Norfolk, Friday, July 7.
"Man our ship and bring her to life!" said The Honorable Meredith Berger, Assistant Secretary of the Navy for Energy, Installations and Environment. The crew responded "Aye, aye, ma'am" and ran toward the brow to man the ship as "Anchors Aweigh" played. Crew members took their places, side-by-side, manning the rails as the ship's systems came online symbolizing the ship "coming to life."
Underway, Shift Colors! The Navy’s newest amphibious transport dock ship, the future USS Fort Lauderdale (LPD 28), began her maiden voyage as the ship departed from Ingalls Shipbuilding in Pascagoula, Miss., July 11, en route to her commissioning site in Fort Lauderdale, Fl. and homeport in Norfolk, Va.
