Rear Admiral Cellon Assumes Command of 1st Naval Construction Division

NORFOLK (NNS) -- Rear Adm. Richard E. Cellon relieved Rear Adm. Robert L. Phillips as commander of 1st Naval Construction Division (1NCD) on June 29 during a ceremony at Naval Amphibious Base Little Creek, Norfolk.

The 1st Naval Construction Division oversees about 16,000 active-duty and Reserve Seabees. With the motto "We Build, We Fight,” Navy Seabees deploy around the world to perform a wide range of military and humanitarian missions such as building roads, bridges, airfields, schools and base camps. They have been heavily involved in Operation Iraqi Freedom and the global war on terrorism as well as many disaster recovery efforts.

The guest speaker for the change of command, Commander Navy Expeditionary Combat Command (NECC) Rear Adm. Donald K. Bullard, offered high praise for the work the Seabees are doing every day.

“They have become one of the most highly sought-after fighting forces and support forces in our joint force. Not only do they fight right alongside special forces and our Marines and our Army today, but they’re able to take on different jobs that no other combat engineer does,” Bullard said. “They are envied throughout our joint service, and they are called upon on a daily basis to go train other countries so they too may make a contribution like the Seabees do.”

Upon assuming command, Cellon said, “’Can do’ is more than just a slogan for our Seabees. It’s a way of life, and it’s positively infectious. Seabees are team players and winners, and you really want to be part of their team. And, that’s why it’s such a privilege for me today to be joining that team. I’m also very pleased to be part of the NECC team. I recognize that along with that tremendous privilege comes significant responsibility and accountability. I welcome that and pledge to give my very best every single day to ensure the 16,000 men and women of the naval construction force are successful.”

Phillips had commanded the 1st Naval Construction Division since Nov. 5, 2004, and retired with 32 years of service. He was awarded the Distinguished Service Medal during the ceremony.

Cellon thanked Phillips for “his spectacular leadership of the NCF and for positioning the force to best serve our nation -- now and well into the future.”

Cellon previously served as commander of Naval Facilities Engineering Command Atlantic in Norfolk.

His other command tours include commander, Naval Facilities Engineering Command Pacific Division in Pearl Harbor from 2002 to 2003; commander, Naval Facilities Engineering Command Southern Division in Charleston, S.C., from 2000 to 2002; Naval Mobile Construction Battalion 40 from 1996 to 1998; and Naval Support Facility Thurmont, Md., (Camp David) from 1994 to 1996.

Cellon is a 1978 graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy. He holds master’s degrees from the University of Florida in civil engineering and the Naval War College in national security and strategic studies.

The mission of the 1st Naval Construction Division is to organize, train, operate and maintain the naval construction force, to command and control naval construction regiments and Seabee readiness groups, and to develop, coordinate and implement policy and requirements to man, equip and train Seabees.

For more news from Commander, 1st Naval Construction Division, visit www.news.navy.mil/local/1ncd/.