Historic dual change of command ceremony held Aug. 7

Photo by MC2 Ace Rheaume / NMCB 5

Seabees from Naval Mobile Construction Battalions 4, 5 and 40, Underwater Construction Team 2, the 31st Seabee Readiness Group and Naval Facilities Expeditionary Logistics Center stand in ranks during a change of command ceremony iAug. 7 at Naval Base Ventura County, Port Hueneme. The ceremony served as a dual change of command for both Naval Facilities Expeditionary Logistic Center and 31st Seabee Readiness Group. The two commands are now guided by separate leadership for the first time since 2003.

Photo by MC2 Ace Rheaume / NMCB 5

Capt. Brant Pickrell, left, new commanding officer of Naval Facilities Expeditionary Logistics Center, and Capt. Dean Tufts, new commodore of the 31st Seabee Readiness Group, look on as Capt. John Korka bids farewell during a change of command ceremony Aug. 7.

A historic and rare dual change of command ceremony took place in front of Seabees, government civilians, family members and Ventura County community leaders Aug. 7 to welcome the incoming commanders and honor the outgoing commander of the Naval Facilities Expeditionary Logistics Center (NFELC) and 31st Seabee Readiness Group (31st SRG).

Capt. John W. Korka, who commanded both NFELC and 31st SRG, relinquished command of NFELC to Capt. Brant Pickrell and 31st SRG to Capt. Dean Tufts. The dual change of command is historic as Korka is the last in a line of officers who have commanded both NFELC and the 31st SRG since 2003.

Prior to Oct. 6, 2000, the officers before Korka commanded Construction Battalion Center (CBC) Port Hueneme. The functions of CBC and its responsibility of equipping and training Seabees would eventually lead to the standup of the 31st SRG. Twelve years ago, CBC was pulled under the umbrella of the commander at Point Mugu, and both installations were renamed Naval Base Ventura County. The base is now commanded by Capt. Larry Vasquez, who attended the ceremony.

The change of command took place on the Seabee Parade Field that featured more than 400 Seabees, a display of Seabee construction equipment and vehicles and the Navy Region Southwest Band from San Diego.

Commander, Naval Facilities Engineering Command (NAVFAC) and Chief of Civil Engineers Rear Adm. Christopher Mossey presented Korka with the Legion of Merit for leading NFELC and 31st SRG in outfitting, training and mobilizing Seabees and other expeditionary forces into the 21st century.

Korka also served as the 30th Naval Construction Regiment commanding officer for eight months, giving him responsibility of Seabee operations throughout the Pacific theater. Korka assumed command of both NFELC and 31st SRG in June 2010.

Mossey and Rear Adm. Mark Handley, commander, First Naval Construction Division (1NCD) presided over the ceremony. Handley is the immediate superior in command of 31st SRG.

“Momentarily, I will pass the flag to two great captains,” said Korka, who is moving to Norfolk, Va., where he will take over as commander of Naval Facilities Engineering Command Mid-Atlantic. “To the men and women of both NFELC and 31st SRG I stand before you to simply say thank you. It has been my honor to be your commodore. New leaders, you are all in very good hands.”

Tufts, who reports here from Naval Facilities Engineering Command Far East, quipped that his son made him promise to keep his speech under a minute. In addressing the Seabees and civilian personnel of his command for the first time, he said: “I feel honored and humble, but mostly proud. I hope to earn your trust and respect in the weeks and years to come.”

Pickrell, who also commands the NAVFAC Engineering Service Center at Port Hueneme, wanted to keep his comments short due to the dual changes of command and said, “Men and women, I am deeply humbled to be your commanding officer. I promise to give you my full energy.”

Seabees from NFELC, 31st SRG, Naval Mobile Construction Battalions 4, 5 and 40 and Underwater Construction Team 2 participated in the ceremony.