Capt. Kirk A. Weatherly relieved Capt. Augustus P. Bennett as commander, Amphibious Squadron (PHIBRON) 4 during a change of command ceremony at Joint Expeditionary Base Little Creek-Fort Story in Virginia Beach, Aug. 5.

PHIBRON 4 recently returned from a successful 7-month deployment to 5th and 6th Fleets with Kearsarge Amphibious Ready Group (ARG) and 26 Marine Expeditionary Unit to support Operation Inherent Resolve and various other operations.

The ARG's success during 2015-2016 deployment to the Mediterranean Sea, Gulf of Aden and Arabian Gulf, in support of Operation Inherent Resolve and various other operations and coalition exercises, highlighted Bennett's leadership abilities. As the Composite Warfare commander, he directed maritime interdiction operations, amphibious operations, theater security cooperation efforts, and maritime security operations.

Weatherly, a native of Indiana who enlisted in 1980, takes command after serving as the deputy commodore of PHIBRON 4. His previous assignments include command of the amphibious dock landing ship USS Whidbey Island (LSD 41) and reactor officer of USS Enterprise (CVN 65).

PHIBRON 4 is one of nine U.S. Navy amphibious squadrons and is currently composed of seven amphibious-class warships including the amphibious assault ships USS Kearsarge (LHD 3), USS Iwo Jima (LHD 7), the amphibious transport dock ships USS Arlington (LPD 24) and USS New York (LPD 21), and the amphibious dock landing ships USS Oak Hill (LSD 41), USS Fort McHenry (LSD 43), USS Gunston Hall (LSD 44). The Iwo Jima, New York and Fort McHenry are all homeported in Mayport, Florida, while the remaining ships are stationed in Hampton Roads, Virginia.

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