Fleet Imaging Command Pacific Begins Disestablishment Process

SAN DIEGO (NNS) -- The next step in the disestablishment process of Fleet Imaging Command Pacific (FICP), came April 27 when the unit's final commanding officer relinquished command.

Cmdr. Brad Fagan relinquished command during a ceremony at Naval Air Station North Island (NASNI).

After 25 years of providing still images and motion imagery to Navy's combatant commands, FICP will be officially disestablished Sept. 30, 2012.

FICP has completed more than 40 deployments and multi-national exercises during Fagan's tenure.

Fagan said the ceremony marks an appropriate end of a successful tour.

"The thing I'm most proud of is the command being awarded the meritorious unit commendation," Fagan said. "It is fitting to recognize these combat cameramen and women for the enormous success they've achieved over the last four years."

Deputy Chief of Information Capt. Greg Hicks was the guest speaker at the ceremony.

Hicks presented the Meritorious Unit Commendation award to Fagan for the recognition of Combat Camera's service.

"There are few Meritorious Unit Commendation awards given. It takes extraordinary, superior, sustained, performance on behalf of everyone in this command in order to merit that award and each and every one of you who have played a role in receiving this should be justifying proud in receiving this award," said Hicks.

The Meritorious Unit Commendation was given to Fleet Combat Camera Group Pacific for service from March 1, 2007 to March 1, 2010. During that time the unit's personnel participated in more than 600 combat missions providing vital imagery in support of various combatant commands.

Fagan, who was awarded the Meritorious Service Medal, will report to Navy Region Southwest in San Diego as Director of Public Affairs.

"I am encouraged about the state of the mass communication specialist community knowing that I worked with the most highly trained and skilled individuals here at Combat Camera," Fagan added.

According to Fagan, Combat Camera will continue to provide its Sailors with the most effective training for their mission readiness.

One Sailor at the command mentioned the importance of effectively preparing for combat situations.

"For me to work at Combat Camera I must be prepared to constantly challenge my abilities as a mass communication specialist, and be prepared to use the skills attained under any situation required. This means that I have the opportunity to document exclusive situations but I have to be physically and mentally sound to do so," said Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Jamar X. Perry.

Combat Camera provides visual information services to all fleet units in the Pacific Command and other joint combatant command areas of operation as tasked. They maintain trained still and video teams, combat camera crews and specialized imaging equipment to provide fleet commanders and combatant commanders with specialized imaging capabilities for the attainment of naval and national objectives.

For more news from Fleet Combat Camera Group Pacific, visit www.navy.mil/local/fccgp/.