Cmdr. Stephen C. Duba relieved Cmdr. Jeffrey M. DeMarco as commanding officer of Explosive Ordnance Disposal Mobile Unit (EODMU) 8 and Commander, Task Group (CTG) 68.1 during a change of command ceremony held aboard Naval Station Rota, Sept. 6.

Capt. Rick Hayes, commander, Explosive Ordnance Disposal Group (EODGRU) 2 served as guest speaker and addressed the EODMU 8 crew, families and friends. He highlighted the unit’s accomplishments under DeMarco’s leadership.

"Under the keen leadership of Commander DeMarco, Mobile Unit Eight has participated in an unprecedented amount of international exercises not only strengthening vital ties with our valued partner nations, but also greatly enhancing our own response capabilities," said Hayes.

DeMarco took the podium and spoke about his time in command.

"I could not have been more honored to lead the men and women of EODMU 8 over the past 2 years,” DeMarco said. “Every day in command I have been in awe of what they accomplish across Europe and Africa.”

He went on to speak about the quality of the Sailors under his charge and the unending support of their families.

“This team's professionalism, motivation, drive and attitude as well as the resilience and resolve of their families are a true example of the quality of the American people,” DeMarco said. “Not only have they been extremely successful in their assigned forward deployed naval force mission, but also they are ambassadors across two continents, having conducted over 100 international partner operations, exercises and engagements. These partners know the Sailors of EOD Mobile Unit Eight and know they can count on them if needed."

During DeMarco’s tenure, EODMU 8 successfully executed joint and combined operations, exercises, and engagements supporting EUCOM and AFRICOM priorities. He is responsible for developing, maintaining and building key relationships with foreign naval leadership from 16 NATO allied and partner nations, ultimately contributing to access and basing to support U.S. strategic objectives. DeMarco was heavily invested in enhancing readiness and fostering a command climate that empowered command members to grow as leaders and succeed.  Under DeMarco’s leadership, EODMU 8 received the 2018 Battle “E” award.

Demarco will report to CTF68 in Rota, Spain, for his next assignment.

Duba, a native of Jacksonville, Florida, thanked DeMarco and lauded his tenure commanding EODMU 8 and then addressed the Sailors.

"I am humbled and honored to lead the Thunderstealers of EOD Mobile Unit Eight,” Duba said.  “Throughout their storied history, this unparalleled team of silent professionals has gone forward to answer our nation's call, significantly impacting strategic operations across the globe.  As the sole command of its kind in the European theater, these forward-deployed Sailors and their families show true dedication and sacrifice every day in support of the Navy's mission to expand partnerships and strengthen naval power from the sea.  As commanding officer, I intend to continue that tradition of professional excellence and combat credibility that this stellar group of warfighters have worked so hard to earn."

Duba commissioned from the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy in 2001 with a Bachelor of Science in Marine Engineering and Shipyard Management and a U.S. Coast Guard Third Assistant Engineer's License for vessels of unlimited tonnage. His previous military assignments include: Officer in Charge (OIC), EODMU 6 Detachment 2; OIC, EOD Detachment Kings Bay; Antiterrorism Officer, Carrier Strike Group 11; Training Officer, Naval Diving and Salvage Training Center; Executive Officer, Navy Experimental Diving Unit; and OIC, Expeditionary Exploitation Unit ONE.  Most recently, Duba earned a Master of Arts degree in Defense and Strategic Studies from the U.S. Naval War College.

EODMU 8, homeported in Naval Station Rota, Spain, provides EOD capability to locate, identify, render safe, recover, field evaluate and dispose of all explosive ordnance, including underwater, biological, chemical and nuclear weapons. With multiple unit commendations and individual combat awards accrued over the past quarter decade, EODMU 8 is the most decorated Naval unit in the European and African theaters.

Cmdr. Stephen C. Duba relieved Cmdr. Jeffrey M. DeMarco as commanding officer of Explosive Ordnance Disposal Mobile Unit (EODMU) 8 and Commander, Task Group (CTG) 68.1 during a change of command ceremony held aboard Naval Station Rota, Sept. 6.

Capt. Rick Hayes, commander, Explosive Ordnance Disposal Group (EODGRU) 2 served as guest speaker and addressed the EODMU 8 crew, families and friends. He highlighted the unit’s accomplishments under DeMarco’s leadership.

"Under the keen leadership of Commander DeMarco, Mobile Unit Eight has participated in an unprecedented amount of international exercises not only strengthening vital ties with our valued partner nations, but also greatly enhancing our own response capabilities," said Hayes.

DeMarco took the podium and spoke about his time in command.

"I could not have been more honored to lead the men and women of EODMU 8 over the past 2 years,” DeMarco said. “Every day in command I have been in awe of what they accomplish across Europe and Africa.”

He went on to speak about the quality of the Sailors under his charge and the unending support of their families.

“This team's professionalism, motivation, drive and attitude as well as the resilience and resolve of their families are a true example of the quality of the American people,” DeMarco said. “Not only have they been extremely successful in their assigned forward deployed naval force mission, but also they are ambassadors across two continents, having conducted over 100 international partner operations, exercises and engagements. These partners know the Sailors of EOD Mobile Unit Eight and know they can count on them if needed."

During DeMarco’s tenure, EODMU 8 successfully executed joint and combined operations, exercises, and engagements supporting EUCOM and AFRICOM priorities. He is responsible for developing, maintaining and building key relationships with foreign naval leadership from 16 NATO allied and partner nations, ultimately contributing to access and basing to support U.S. strategic objectives. DeMarco was heavily invested in enhancing readiness and fostering a command climate that empowered command members to grow as leaders and succeed.  Under DeMarco’s leadership, EODMU 8 received the 2018 Battle “E” award.

Demarco will report to CTF68 in Rota, Spain, for his next assignment.

Duba, a native of Jacksonville, Florida, thanked DeMarco and lauded his tenure commanding EODMU 8 and then addressed the Sailors.

"I am humbled and honored to lead the Thunderstealers of EOD Mobile Unit Eight,” Duba said.  “Throughout their storied history, this unparalleled team of silent professionals has gone forward to answer our nation's call, significantly impacting strategic operations across the globe.  As the sole command of its kind in the European theater, these forward-deployed Sailors and their families show true dedication and sacrifice every day in support of the Navy's mission to expand partnerships and strengthen naval power from the sea.  As commanding officer, I intend to continue that tradition of professional excellence and combat credibility that this stellar group of warfighters have worked so hard to earn."

Duba commissioned from the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy in 2001 with a Bachelor of Science in Marine Engineering and Shipyard Management and a U.S. Coast Guard Third Assistant Engineer's License for vessels of unlimited tonnage. His previous military assignments include: Officer in Charge (OIC), EODMU 6 Detachment 2; OIC, EOD Detachment Kings Bay; Antiterrorism Officer, Carrier Strike Group 11; Training Officer, Naval Diving and Salvage Training Center; Executive Officer, Navy Experimental Diving Unit; and OIC, Expeditionary Exploitation Unit ONE.  Most recently, Duba earned a Master of Arts degree in Defense and Strategic Studies from the U.S. Naval War College.

EODMU 8, homeported in Naval Station Rota, Spain, provides EOD capability to locate, identify, render safe, recover, field evaluate and dispose of all explosive ordnance, including underwater, biological, chemical and nuclear weapons. With multiple unit commendations and individual combat awards accrued over the past quarter decade, EODMU 8 is the most decorated Naval unit in the European and African theaters.

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