During the ceremony, Mayes retired from active duty following 34 years of naval service culminating a distinguished career that started in Aviation Officer Candidate School in 1988.

Navy Region Southeast was the final step of a prestigious career that included duties as a station pilot at Naval Air Station Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, flying the SH-60B/R helicopter with Helicopter Anti-Submarine Squadron Light (HSL) 46 and 48 and as the executive officer and commanding officer of HSL-44.  He participated in flight operations across the globe including Haiti, South America, the Red Sea, and Persian Gulf.  His non-aviation tours included duties as an Administrative Aide to the Secretary of the Navy, Senate Liaison Officer for the Navy Office of Legislative Affairs, Commanding Officer of Naval Base Coronado and Naval aide to the Vice President of the United States.

Vice Adm. Yancy Lindsey, Commander, Navy Installations Command, served as the presiding officer and the guest speaker for the occasion.  He praised Mayes for the legacy he leaves behind.

“Gary, your passion, your compassion and your leadership of this award-winning region team culminates a remarkable 34-year career of dedication and service to our Navy and our nation,” he said.  “To say thank you falls well short of the immense gratitude and indebtedness the men and women of Navy Installations Command feel as we reflect on your significant contributions.”

After his remarks, Lindsey called Mayes forward to receive the Legion of Merit medal for his “unmatched leadership and professionalism” during his tour.  He was recognized for directing 3.5 million air operations, 4,102 ship movements, 101 foreign Navy visits and five ship commissioning ceremonies.  He oversaw the military response to two terrorist attacks at Naval Air Stations Pensacola and Corpus Christi significantly increasing force readiness and ensuring a safer environment for military personnel, civilian employees, and their families.

Furthermore, Mayes spearheaded the Navy’s largest ever Energy Savings Performance Contract enabling safe and efficient electrical energy for Naval Station Guantanamo Bay for the next several decades.  Additionally, he finalized the Department of Defense’s first ever exchange of a Navy outlying landing field for a newly constructed landing field in Florida utilizing community partners.  The transaction greatly enhanced the Navy’s ability to train Naval aviators far into the future.

As Commander, Navy Region Southeast, Mayes was responsible for 17 naval installations and over 600 smaller facilities encompassing 24,000 buildings and 172,000 acres of property across 12 states and Cuba.

“I made a point when I got here to visit as many installations and facilities that made up Navy region Southeast as I could,” Mayes said.  “On every visit, my biggest take-away was the respect and appreciation for the people and what they do twenty-four/seven to ensure mission readiness for the fleet, fighter, family and this great Navy.”

McCall takes over the Region with nearly 30 years of Naval experience starting as a 1990 graduate of the United States Naval Academy where he received a Bachelor of Science in Oceanography.

An experienced aviator, he has accumulated more than 3,700 flight hours in fixed and rotary winged aircraft.  McCall commanded Helicopter Anti-Submarine Squadron 6 and served other operational tours with Helicopter Anti-Submarine Squadron 4, Helicopter Anti-Submarine Squadron 2, and as Navigator, USS George Washington (CVN 73).

He has also served with U.S. Naval Forces Central Command/U.S. 5^th Fleet, as protocol officer for the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and most recently as the executive assistant to the Assistant Secretary of the Navy for Energy, Installations and Environment

McCall was also a previous commanding officer of Naval Station Mayport, Florida and the new assignment serves as a homecoming for him.

“This staff, this region and this city mean a lot to me personally.  This is where I learned the business of the shore,” he said.  “I believe in this team and our mission and I look forward to working with you on the hard work ahead.”