Fifty students in the Department Head Course at the Surface Warfare Officers School (SWOS) graduated Sept. 19 during a ceremony in which Rear Adm. Roy Kitchener, commander of Naval Surface Force Atlantic, reminded them it's a great time to be a department head in the world’s premier surface force. 

"For the first time in a very long time, the United States is in a great power competition," Kitchener said. "The surface warfare community is generating combat-ready ships and battle-minded crews. You as a department head have a critical role in making this happen."

Kitchener thanked the graduates' families and friends iand acknowledged how their support makes the difference in their success.

“Family readiness directly contributes to operational readiness,” he said.  

Part of a training continuum second to none, the 26-week course is designed to prepare surface warfare officers (SWOs) for successful tours as department heads on all classes of ships in the fleet.

The instruction is divided into two parts: Tactical Action Officer (TAO) and Operations Readiness, Training and Engineering (ORTE). The TAO portion focuses on areas including air defense, expeditionary operations, surface warfare and undersea warfare, and ORTE explores the specifics of each student's prospective assignment.

Capt. Christopher Alexander, SWOS commanding officer, charged the officers to take their time at SWOS to the fleet.

"Your Department Head tour will arguably be your most challenging and rewarding assignment you have as a SWO," Alexander said. 

Distinguished graduates included Lt. Bryce Yost, selected by his classmates to receive the Arleigh Burke Award, as the individual possessing the strongest leadership, industriousness and perseverance, along with the City of Newport Award for demonstrating the highest qualities of professionalism and leadership.

Lt. J.R. Dinglassen received the Top Gunner Award for the highest grade point average in the TAO curriculum, and Lt. Ryan Kelly was selected for the Top Snipe Award, as the prospective engineering officer with the highest grade point average in the engineering curriculum.

Many of the graduates will arrive at their ships within the week to begin 18- or 36-month tours.

While on hand, Kitchener visited the school’s state-of-the-art trainers and simulators, which the graduates utilized during their preparation, and also addressed students in the Advanced Division Officer Course and the Surface Commander’s Course.  

Headquartered in Newport, Rhode Island, and overseeing nine learning sites worldwide, SWOS readies sea-bound Sailors to serve on surface combatants as officers, enlisted engineers, and enlisted navigation professionals to fulfill the Navy’s mission to maintain global maritime superiority.

SURFLANT mans, trains and equips assigned surface forces and shore activities, ensuring a capable force for conducting prompt and sustained operations in support of United States national interests. More than 70 ships and 34 shore commands make up the SURFLANT Force.

For more information about SURFLANT, visit http://public.navy.mil/surflant/hq or http://www.facebook.com/SURFLANT/.

For more information about SWOS, visit http://www.netc.navy.mil/centers/swos/ or http://www.facebook.com/SWOSCOLCOM/.

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For more news from Commander, Naval Surface Force, U.S. Atlantic Fleet, visit www.navy.mil/.