Capt. Richard Hayes relieved Capt. Josh Jackson as commander, Explosive Ordnance Disposal Group (EODGRU) 2 during a change of command ceremony held at Joint Expeditionary Base Little Creek-Fort Story, May 10.

Rear Adm. Brian Brakke, commander, Navy Expeditionary Combat Command, spoke during the ceremony.

“Capt. Josh Jackson is a part of EOD Group 2’s legacy,” Brakke said. “Over his tenure, Josh leveraged his strategic vision, proven combat experience and operational foresight to provide exceptional leadership to this team; a team comprised of a headquarters staff, seven subordinate battalion headquarters and 62 platoons specializing in explosive ordnance disposal, mobile diving and salvage, mobile communications, unmanned systems and recompression chamber operations. The more than 1,200 men and women of this team were regularly called upon to serve and support a wide range of missions across the globe.”

In his time commanding EODGRU 2, Jackson oversaw EOD and diving forces operating across the globe in support of national, naval and special operations interests.

“EOD Group 2 has a long and storied history as quiet professionals and have deployed, just during my tenure, to South America, Africa, Iraq, Syria, Europe and the middle east,” Jackson said in his remarks at the ceremony.  “You have consistently displayed dedication to readiness and mission success across all warfare areas. Your work and your commitment to the mission has had a lasting and profound impact on our force, our Navy and our country.  As your group commander, I am certain that I can send you anywhere with the confidence you will succeed.  I am very proud of you, and I am thankful that I was allowed to serve alongside each and every one of you.”

Following his remarks, Jackson and Hayes each read their orders, and Hayes assumed command.

“I’m highly encouraged by what I’ve seen and heard,” Hayes said after assuming command. “Our readiness is at a high state, and I look forward to further success. I’m encouraged and excited and ready to get going.”

EODGRU2 oversees all east-coast based EOD and diving and salvage units and is comprised of EOD Mobile Unit (EODMU) 2, EODMU 6, EODMU 12, EOD Training and Evaluation Unit 2, Mobile Diving and Salve Command 2, and EOD Expeditionary Support Unit 2, all based in Virginia Beach, Virginia, as well as EODMU 8 based in Rota, Spain.

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