Naval Computer and Telecommunications Station San Diego (NCTS SD) held a change of command ceremony aboard Naval Air Station North Island April 26.

Cmdr. Bobby T. Carmickle relieved Cmdr. Kelvin B. McGhee after a 25-month tour as commanding officer.

McGhee led a workforce of 350 military, civilian and contract personnel. He expressed deep admiration for his staff during the ceremony.

"During the past two years I've had the privilege of working with our nation's finest personnel on a daily basis, providing the absolute best customer service to the Fleet," he said. "Each of our departments is committed to working together to accomplish common objectives, which are absolutely necessary if we are going to meet today's, as well as future requirements. I could ask nothing more."

McGhee, who served as the 34th NCTS SD Commanding Officer, was presented with a Meritorious Service Medal. His next assignment is executive assistant to Commander, Naval Information Forces in Suffolk, Virginia.

"Under Cmdr. McGhee's exceptional leadership, the NCTS SD team has continued to refine and hone our command, control, communications and computer warfighting capabilities and optimize availability, security and resiliency, all this in a backdrop of adversaries that test us 2.5 million times a day," said the ceremony's presiding officer, Capt. Adam Lyons, Naval Network Warfare Command commanding officer.

As Carmickle assumed his new position, he noted how honored he was to be taking command from McGhee, "Leadership is not about a title, position or designation, it's about impact, influence and inspiration," said Carmickle. "There is no doubt about the tremendous impact you have had on this organization, the positive influence you have provided both professionally and personally to those you have served with, and how your leadership example has been inspiration for juniors and senior alike."

The new commanding officer, a native of Anderson, Kentucky, received his commission in 2001 and laterally transferred to the Information Professional community in 2003.

Past assignments have included Deputy Executive Assistant to the Deputy Chief of Naval Operations for Information Warfare/ Director of Naval Intelligence (OPNAV N2/N6); Officer-in-Charge at Naval Computer and Telecommunications Area Master Station Atlantic; instructor at the Center for Surface Combat Systems; Assistant Chief of Staff for Command, Control, Communications, Computers, Collaboration and Intelligence (C5I) and Deputy Information Warfare Command (Carrier Strike Group Nine) aboard USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN 71) and Electronics Material Officer and Combat Systems Officer aboard USS Freedom (LCS 1).

Carmickle also served with U.S. Forces Iraq as Civilian Ministries Branch Chief and Chief of Security Cooperation Iraq, in support of Operations Iraqi Freedom and New Dawn.

He received a bachelor's degree from Columbus State University, a master's degree from Syracuse University, a Chief Information Officer's designation from the National Defense University and is a graduate from Naval Postgraduate School with certificates in Space Systems and Information Systems Technology.

NCTS SD provides integrated, tactical and non-tactical telecommunications connectivity to local and regional customers, afloat and ashore, through a cooperative effort with the Regional Information Technology Service Center. The command is leading the way to the Defense Message System, supporting afloat, pier-side connectivity, the Department of Defense Global Information Grid project and Navy Marine Corps Intranet implementation for the Southwest Region.

The command's mission is to provide robust and secure satellite, network, and strategic communications that enable Navy, coalition and joint forces to exercise decision superiority and optimize warfighting effects that globally deter and defeat aggressors.



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