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PACIFIC OCEAN
- With the South Pacific Ocean as a
backdrop, the officers and crew of the guided missile destroyer USS
Fitzgerald (DDG 62) stood in formation for a change of command
ceremony, July 26.
During the ceremony, Cmdr. Brian Mutty
relieved Cmdr. Dennis Velez as commanding officer of Fitzgerald.
“I extremely honored and humbled to have had the opportunity to
serve as commanding officer of such an incredible crew, something I
have dreamed of since I was young,” said Cmdr. Velez. “I am inspired
and impressed by the perseverance, enthusiasm and expert skill the
crew demonstrates on a daily basis – the credit for each success
this ship has earned goes to each one of you. This tour has been the
pinnacle of my Naval career and I will carry my experiences from the
last year with me for the rest of my life.”
Velez’s command tour was cut short a few months as he received
orders to serve as Deputy Commodore of Destroyer Squadron Fifteen.
However, during his fourteen months in command, Fitzgerald displayed
superior performance, remaining fully qualified, certified and
mission ready.
Also under Velez’s command, the ship earned the 2010 Anti-Submarine
Warfare (ASW) Bloodhound Award as well as the 2010 Retention
Excellence Award. Fitzgerald excelled in all warfare areas while
participating in multiple joint maritime exercises to include ASW
operations with South Korea and a recent biennial exercise, Talisman
Sabre 2011, with our Australian allies. Additionally, Fitzgerald got
underway in four hours following the devastating earthquake that
struck the Japanese nation in March 2011, providing support and
conducting search and rescue operations less than one mile from
land.
A graduate of the United States Naval Academy, Class of 1992, Velez
earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Aerospace Engineering, later
earning a Masters in Information Technology Management. On his
previous five ships he deployed to numerous regions including
Western Africa, the Mediterranean Sea, Adriatic Sea, Red Sea, Indian
Ocean, and Persian Gulf. Ashore, Velez has worked as Officer in
Charge of Western Hemisphere Group Caribbean Area Coordinator as
well as Deputy Director of Surface Warfare Distribution for the
Naval Personnel Command.
“Through Cmdr. Velez’s exceptional leadership, discipline and
dedication, Fitzgerald has set the standard across the waterfront,”
said Cmdr. Mutty. “I can only hope to be half as good a commanding
officer, and if so, Fitzgerald will remain the first ship Seventh
Fleet requests for difficult missions.”
Cmdr. Mutty is the eleventh commanding officer of USS Fitzgerald. He
completed his undergraduate education at Virginia Polytechnic
Institute and State University, later attending the Naval
Postgraduate School and earning a Master of Arts degree in National
Security Affairs. Previous ships include USS Bainbridge (CGN 25),
USS Laboon (DDG 58), USS Austin (LPD 4), USS Cole (DDG 67) and USS
Ross (DDG 71). Throughout his career he deployed to the
Mediterranean, Persian Gulf, North and South Atlantic and Caribbean.
Additional career highlights include serving at OPNAV N86 as
Requirements Officer for the Littoral Combat Ship, an Individual
Augmentation assignment to support Joint CREW Composite Squadron One
in Mosul, Iraq and assignment as the Chief Plans Policy Branch on
the Joint Staff, J-7, Operational War Plans Division.
Mutty arrived in Japan in June 2010 to serve as the executive
officer and following tour as commanding officer, taking part in the
first Executive Officer/Commanding Officer “fleet-up” onboard USS
Fitzgerald.
“You have truly impressed me during my time as executive officer,”
Mutty addressed the crew. “I cannot thank you enough for your
support over the last year and I am honored to have the chance to
serve with the best crew in the Navy.”
USS Fitzgerald (DDG 62) is one of seven Arleigh Burke-class guided
missile destroyer that is forward deployed to Yokosuka, Japan, as
part of Destroyer Squadron 15 in the U.S. 7th Fleet. |
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