Capt. Kevin M. Robinson relieved Capt. Douglas A. McGoff as commander, Military Sealift Command Atlantic (MSCLANT) during a change of command ceremony aboard USNS Yuma (T-EPF 8), June 30.

Rear Adm. Dee L. Mewbourne, commander, Military Sealift Command, served as the guest speaker.

McGoff, a native of Troy, New York, assumed command of MSCLANT in 2015 maintaining daily oversight of all MSC ships in the Western Atlantic Ocean and Gulf of Mexico performing missions from combat logistics to strategic sealift.

During his tenure, McGoff oversaw combat logistics force ship deployments to support the U.S. Navy's carrier strike groups; 23 major fleet exercises in support of carrier and expeditionary strike groups, independent deployers, and NATO coalition forces; and 27 prepositioning ships returning to the United States from the Pacific for scheduled maintenance and major shipyard availabilities. Additionally, McGoff executed the movement of ships out of harm's way in the east and Gulf coasts during multiple hurricanes and severe weather events.

"What is evident about your work as commodore, and throughout your entire career, is you embodied the characteristics of professionalism, integrity, and teamwork in everything you did," Mewbourne said.

McGoff graduated from the United States Naval Academy in 1990 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Operational Analysis. At sea, McGoff served on numerous assignments including as executive officer aboard USS Mitscher (DDG 57), and commanding officer aboard USS Ross (DDG 71). Prior to serving as commander, MSCLANT, McGoff was assigned in the Pentagon in the Office of the Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Strategy and Force Development as Deputy Director for Strategic Analysis.

Following the change of command ceremony, McGoff retired after 27 years of faithful service to the nation and the Navy. McGoff plans to be a math teacher in Reno, Nevada.

"This will be a new challenge, and I hope that everything I've learned up to this point in my life helps me to continue to serve the young men and women of our country in that meaningful but different way," McGoff said.

Prior to assuming command of MSCLANT, Robinson served as Plans Chief and Security Assistance Navy Section Chief, Office of Security Cooperation - Iraq. Robinson previously served with MSC aboard the fast combat support ship USS Seattle (AOE 3) and command of the rescue and salvage ship USS Grapple (ARS 53).

MSC operates approximately 120 non-combatant, civilian-crewed ships that replenish U.S. Navy ships, conduct specialized missions, and strategically preposition combat cargo at sea around the world while moving military cargo and supplies used by deployed U.S. forces and coalition partners.

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