Rear Adm. Michelle C. Skubic succeeded Rear Adm. Jonathan A. Yuen as Commander, Naval Supply Systems Command (NAVSUP) and Chief of Supply Corps, during a change of command and retirement ceremony at Naval Support Activity, Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania, July 13, making her the first female to lead both NAVSUP and the Supply Corps.

Chief of Naval Operations (CNO) Adm. John M. Richardson officiated the ceremony, which was attended by nearly 700 military and civilian personnel.

"There is no better person to take the helm than Rear Adm. Michelle Skubic," Richardson said. "You have the complete loyalty, trust, and confidence of the Navy. We could not be more proud."

"I am excited and eager to begin working," Skubic said. "NAVSUP has a key role in supporting improved readiness and enduring sustainment of our military might. Our focus will always be on the Fleet, on the Sailors at sea who keep the Navy afloat, and all Warfighters in harm's way; on ensuring we do our part toward success in operations, from training to effective combat engagements. We owe that to our Warfighters."

Prior to assuming her new position, Skubic served as commander, Defense Logistics Agency (DLA) Land and Maritime, Columbus, Ohio. Skubic's previous duty stations include director, Logistics, Fleet Supply and Ordnance; N4, United States Pacific Fleet, Pearl Harbor, Hawaii; chief of staff, Naval Supply Systems Command (NAVSUP), Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania; commanding officer, NAVSUP Fleet Logistics Center Norfolk, Virginia; director of supplier operations, DLA Aviation, Richmond, Virginia; deputy force supply officer, Commander, Naval Surface Forces, San Diego, California; deputy department head for program contracts, Naval Air Systems Command in Patuxent River, Maryland; combined bachelor quarters officer and Aviation Support Division officer, Naval Air Station Sigonella, Sicily; and services officer and carrier readiness officer at Commander, Naval Air Force, U.S. Pacific Fleet, San Diego, California. Her afloat tours include USS George H. W. Bush (CVN 77), USS McFaul (DDG 74), and USS Acadia (AD 42).

Skubic earned a bachelor's degree from California State University, Fullerton and holds a Master of Science in Acquisition and Contract Management from Naval Post Graduate School. She is also a graduate of the Joint Forces Staff College and the University of North Carolina Kenan-Flagler Executive Development Institute.

In addressing Yuen, Skubic said, "Your leadership has served as a steady beacon, and you can rest assured that your legacy of ethics and reinforced focus on sustaining the modern fight to victory will endure well into the future."

Yuen retired after 35 years of honorable service to the U.S. Navy. He assumed command of NAVSUP and the position as 47th Chief of Supply Corps in October 2013. He was the first Asian American to serve as Commander NAVSUP and Chief of Supply Corps.

Richardson noted, "For five years Rear Adm. Yuen has led his team to strengthen the readiness of the fleet, strengthen the bonds of trust and confidence, and has spent his every waking moment thinking about how to support our force so that we can defeat our adversaries."

"I have no doubt that Rear Adm. Skubic will lead you with courage and distinction as our Navy and our military continue to evolve to meet our changing global challenges. She is the right person to take the reins of this exceptional team," Yuen said. "It is a new dawning for me, and I am forever changed-and for the better-for having had this opportunity to serve."

Richardson noted, "Thankfully, we can count on our NAVSUP team to deliver the right stuff, to the right place, at the right time, and at the right cost to fight and win at a place and time of our choosing. This is the formula for maintaining maritime superiority." In conclusion, he added, "A prayer of thanksgiving for everything the Yuens have done; and a prayer that Michelle will be strengthened in this tremendous responsibility that she has agreed to take on. And, include in your thoughts and prayers all the Sailors, soldiers, Coast Guardsmen, Marines, and Airmen deployed around the globe, putting their lives on the line so that we can have this fragile thing we call freedom."

Headquartered in Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania, and employing a diverse, worldwide workforce of more than 22,500 military and civilian personnel, NAVSUP's mission is to provide supplies, services, and quality-of-life support to the Navy and joint warfighter. Learn more at www.navsup.navy.mil, www.facebook.com/navsup and http://twitter.com/navsupsyscom.

For more information, visit www.navy.mil, www.facebook.com/usnavy, or www.twitter.com/usnavy.

For more news from Naval Supply Systems Command, visit www.navy.mil/.