The crew of the Whidbey Island-class dock landing ship USS Gunston Hall (LSD 44) held a change of command ceremony held at the Colonnas Shipyard in Norfolk, Dec. 10, 2019.

Cmdr. Jeff Betz relieved Cmdr. Brian Hamel as the commanding officer of Gunston Hall during a time-honored ceremony held while the ship is conducting a maintenance availability in the shipyard.

“If I would say one thing about what this ship has done it’s the turnaround from being the ship that needed help, to being self-sufficient,” said Hamel. “This was a direct result of the hard work of the leadership and the Sailors here.”  Hamel acknowledged that the amphibious force is changing but told his crew, “Gunston Hall will be back to sea soon, contributing to the bigger mission, at the forefront of the ships ready for tasking.”

Under Hamel’s command, Gunston Hall participated in the NATO exercise Trident Juncture 2018 in North Atlantic. He led his crew in the planning of a 13 month maintenance availability, taking the ship through to 75% completion. Hamel will next serve as an instructor at the Surface Warfare Officer School in Newport, Rhode Island.

Under Betz’ command, Gunston Hall will complete the remaining 25% of her shipyard availability and begin the Basic Phase.

Betz reported to Gunston Hall as executive officer one day prior to departing for a U.S. 4th Fleet Southern Seas deployment.

“No matter what issues have come up, whatever problems we’ve needed to solve, I have always felt like I had a group of leaders who could solve the problem. Next to being a father, I consider the chance to be your commanding officer the greatest opportunity of my life.”

Betz, a native from Cincinnati, Ohio, received his commission in 2001 from Miami University (of Ohio) through the university's Naval Reserve Officer Training Corps unit. His previous assignments include USS Harpers Ferry (LSD 49), USS Germantown (LSD 42), USS Nitze (DDG 94), U.S. Naval Forces Central Command/U.S. 5th Fleet staff in Manama, Bahrain, Naval Postgraduate School, USS Kearsarge (LHD 3), Destroyer Squadron Twenty Two, and flag aide to the Deputy Commander of U.S. Fleet Forces Command.

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