Navy Recruiting District (NRD) San Diego held a change of command and retirement ceremony at Admiral Kidd Conference Center, July 23.

Cmdr. Bob Reddy relieved Cmdr. Todd Hofstedt as commanding officer of the recruiting district.

"I have had a lot of great experiences over my 22 years in the Navy, but without a doubt my opportunity to be the commanding officer of NRD San Diego was far the best," said Hofstedt.

Commander, Navy Recruiting Region West, Capt. John Lewis spoke during the ceremony, and commended Hofstedt's performance.

"The achievements of NRD San Diego under Cmdr. Hofstedt's leadership are remarkable in and of themselves, and quite honestly...Only the tip of the iceberg," Lewis said. "But when assessed collectively, they tell a story of incredible teamwork, camaraderie, cohesiveness and total dedication to mission accomplishment."

During his remarks, Hofstedt conducted his last official act as commanding officer, utilizing his authority under the meritorious advancement program to advance six Sailors to the rank of first class petty officer.

Directly following the change of command, a retirement reception was held to honor Hofstedt's 22 years of service. A native of Conn Rapids, Minn., Hofstedt graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy in 1993 and spent 19 years as a submarine officer, before reporting to NRD San Diego in 2012.

Cmdr. Bob Reddy was the executive officer of NRD San Diego before assuming command. A native of Randallstown, Md., he enlisted in the Navy in 1991, and was selected to attend the Naval Academy Preparatory School in 1993. He graduated the Naval Academy in 1998 with a Bachelor of Science. He also holds a graduate degree from the U.S. Naval Postgraduate School.

Navy Recruiting Command's mission is to recruit the best men and women for America's Navy to accomplish today's missions and meet tomorrow's challenges. NRD San Diego encompasses 45 recruiting stations and 210,000 square miles within a tri-state area that includes portions of Southern California, Arizona and Nevada.

For more news from Navy Recruiting District San Diego, visit www.navy.mil/