Mobile Diving and Salvage Unit 2 Disestablished; Explosive Ordnance Disposal Mobile Unit 10 Established

03 July 2025

From Lt.j.g. Martin Carey

VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. – The U.S. Navy marked the end of an era and the beginning of a new chapter during a ceremony July 3, as Mobile Diving and Salvage Unit (MDSU) 2 was formally disestablished and Explosive Ordnance Disposal Mobile Unit (EOD) 10 was established aboard Joint Expeditionary Base Little Creek-Fort Story.

Download

VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. — Cmdr. Garret Pankow, commanding officer of Mobile Diving and Salvage Unit (MDSU) 2, changes command with Cmdr. Jonathon Maurus, as he assumes command of Explosive Ordnance Disposal Mobile Unit (EODMU) 10 during a ceremony at Joint Expeditionary Base Little Creek-Fort Story, July 3, 2025. During the ceremony MDSU-2 was disestablished and EODMU-10 established, combining their warfighting capabilities. EODMU-10 is a subordinate command of Explosive Ordnace Disposal Group 2 and operates as part of Navy Expeditionary Combat Force providing skilled, capable, and combat-ready deployable Navy EOD and Navy Diver forces around the globe to support a range of operations. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Jackson Adkins)

The ceremony, attended by families, shipmates, and distinguished guests, celebrated the legacy of MDSU-2 - a unit synonymous with diving, salvage, and undersea response excellence - and welcomed the future of integrated expeditionary operations under EODMU-10.

Established in 1982, MDSU-2 was a cornerstone of U.S. Navy diving and salvage capability. Over the decades, its Sailors supported numerous historic and high-profile operations, including the 1986 recovery of Space Shuttle Challenger, the salvage of TWA Flight 800 in 1996 and Swiss Air Flight 111 in 1998, and the recovery of Space Shuttle Columbia in 2003.

Divers and EOD technicians from MDSU-2 also played critical roles in complex salvage operations around the globe, including the 1994 Eritrea Africa ship salvage, the 1999 USS Cole (DDG 67) recovery, and the multi-year recovery project of USS Monitor, a Civil War ironclad warship. The unit supported humanitarian assistance responses for Hurricane Katrina and Hurricane Sandy and led pioneering efforts in Arctic diving during Operation Nanook in 2010.

Commander Garrett Pankow took to the podium to deliver his final message as the commanding officer of MDSU-2.

“Today is bittersweet,” said Pankow. “We’re not only executing a time-honored transfer of command but also retiring a combat salvage unit with a legacy that spans the globe, and establishing a new EOD mobile unit. For half a century, MDSU-2 Salvors have operated with character and competency – from the Arctic Circle to the depths of the Red Sea.” He continued, “It has been the honor of my career to be the skipper of MDSU-2. The spirit and capability of MDSU-2 carries forward into EODMU-10, and all East Coast EOD mobile units, as we combine EOD and Salvage warriors at EOD mobile units; ready to support the fleet, anytime, anywhere.”

Commander Jonathon Maurus, from Dearborn, MI, will be the first commanding officer of EODMU-10.

“I am extremely honored and humbled to take the helm from Commander Pankow during this historic transition - while we close the chapter on MDSU-2, we carry forward its proud legacy as we stand up EOD Mobile Unit-10, ready to meet the Navy’s evolving mission with the same tenacity and excellence.”

Rear Adm. Brad Andros, Commander, Navy Expeditionary Combat Command, served as the ceremony’s guest speaker and stressed the significance of the redesign of the mobile diving and salvage force.

“The transition from MDSU-2 to EOD Mobile Unit-10 is not a loss – it is a consolidation of excellence,” said Andros. “This force redesign brings the full spectrum of EOD and MDSU capabilities under one commander, one unified command - bringing together our teams, our chief’s mess, our wardrooms. Our expeditionary forces must be ready for a future fight. We can no longer look at our niche capabilities as we did 10 or 20 years ago…our Navy Expeditionary Combat Forces will be needed for our full repertoire, full capability and full capacity.”

The establishment of EODMU-10 reflects a greater NECC effort to ensure readiness for the future fight and a deliberate approach to build a more sustainable and agile force. The unit will continue to leverage diving and salvage expertise while aligning under the broader Explosive Ordnance Disposal Group 2 enterprise.

As a critical component of the Navy Expeditionary Combat Force, Navy EOD forces clear explosive hazards to provide access to denied areas; they employ advanced tactics and technologies to exploit and secure the undersea domain for freedom of maneuver; they build and foster relationships with a constellation of capable and trusted partners; and they protect the homeland and our American way of life.

For more information, visit https://www.necc.usff.navy.mil/eod/

Google Translation Disclaimer