Command of USS Forrest Sherman (DDG 98) was passed down during a time-honored ceremony held aboard the Arleigh Burke-class destroyer, Nov. 4.

In front of Forrest Sherman crew, dignitaries, family, and friends, Cmdr. Jamie Murdock relieved Cmdr. Todd Zenner as commanding officer during a ceremony held on the flight deck.

Capt. Erik Eslich, deputy commander, Destroyer Squadron 2, was guest speaker at the ceremony and congratulated Zenner and the crew for a job well done. During Zenner's tenure and while Murdock was serving as the ship's executive officer, the ship deployed with the Theodore Roosevelt Carrier Strike Group to the U.S. 5th Fleet area of responsibility and participated in Operation Inherent Resolve missions against the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) group militants. Forrest Sherman also participated in maritime interdiction operations in the Gulf of Aden and the Strait of Bab el Mandeb.

Zenner was awarded the Meritorious Service Medal for his tour as Forrest Sherman's commanding officer. His next duty station is aircraft carrier USS Harry S. Truman (CVN 75), where he will serve as the reactor officer.

Murdock hails from Ticonderoga, New York. He graduated from the University of Florida, and received his commission through Officer Candidate School in Pensacola, Florida, in 1999. He served at sea as damage control assistant and navigator in the pre-commissioning crew of USS Howard (DDG 83), engineer officer aboard USS Higgins (DDG 76), and engineer officer aboard guided-missile cruiser USS Cape St. George (CG 71).

Ashore, Murdock served in the Office of the Dean of Students at the Naval War College; the Office of Legislative Affairs Program Office as the fleet readiness liaison to the Senate and House Armed Services committees; and as a detailer in PERS-411, Surface Commander and Lieutenant Commander/Commander Assignments, at Navy Personnel Command.

"I am humbled and honored to take command of this incredible warship and to lead the finest crew in the Navy," said Murdock.

Forrest Sherman is the 48th ship in the Arleigh Burke (DDG 51) class of Aegis guided-missile destroyers -- the U.S. Navy's powerful destroyer fleet. These highly-capable, multi-mission ships can conduct a variety of operations, from peacetime presence and crisis management to sea control and power projection in support of national military strategy.

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