Explosive Ordnance Disposal Mobile Unit (EODMU) 5 held a change of command ceremony onboard U.S. Naval Base Guam, June 23.

Cmdr. Mike Tollison relieved Cmdr. Benjamin Cipperley as EODMU 5 commanding officer.

Guest speaker Capt. Bob Baughman Commander, Task Force (CTF) 75, praised Cipperley for his many accomplishments while EODMU 5 was under his command.

"Leading EODMU FIVE for the past two years has been the highlight of my career," said Cipperley. "The Sailors of EODMU FIVE are the best in the Fleet and it has been a privilege to serve alongside them. They think differently and act decisively to achieve incredible progress in warfighting readiness."

During his tenure at EODMU 5, Cipperley produced 17 trained and certified units of actions in support of 14 deployments to Commander, Seventh Fleet, Special Operations Command (SOC) Pacific, and Special Operations Command Korea. He led his command in the execution of 74 operations, actions, and activities throughout the Indo-Asia-Pacific area of responsibility and established the first-ever deployment of a Rapid Material Analysis Cell exploitation capability to the southern Philippines.

Additionally, while under Cipperley's leadership, EODMU 5 was awarded the COMPACFLT Retention Excellence award in 2015 and 2016, a Meritorious Unit Commendation in 2016, and the Battle Efficiency Award (Battle "E") in 2017.

"Under Cmdr. Cipperley's leadership, this unified team composed of the headquarters element, all its departments and divisions, and it tactical units of action, have performed superbly, and keenly understand how they fit into the PACOM, PACFLT, Seventh Fleet, and Theater SOCs visions and missions," said Baughman.

Cipperley was born and raised in Omaha, Nebraska; he graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy and was commissioned in 1999.

Tollison is from North Carolina and also graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy and was commissioned in 1999. Tollison is coming to Guam and EODMU 5 from Millington, Tennessee where he served as Officer Community Manager and as the EOD Officer Detailer at Navy Personnel Command.

EODMU 5 is forward-deployed at Naval Base Guam and patrols the 7th Fleet area of responsibility for mines and other explosive hazards. They provide detachments for other tasks wherever and whenever they are needed.

Navy EOD technicians are an elite team of warriors who eliminate hazards from conventional ordnances, weapons of mass destruction, sea mines and improvised explosive devices, and accomplish expeditionary diving and salvage objectives. These Sailors foster trust and cooperation with like-minded nations, ensure offensive maneuver for conventional and special forces, and mitigate harm to U.S. and coalition forces as well as civilians.

For more news from U.S. Naval Forces Marianas, visit www.navy.mil/local/guam/.

For more news from Explosive Ordnance Disposal Group 1, visit www.navy.mil/.