Explosive Ordnance Disposal Mobile Unit (EODMU) 11 held a change of command ceremony, June 21, at Naval Outlying Landing Field Imperial Beach.

Cmdr. Sean Kido relieved Cmdr. Joseph "Karl" Haywood as commanding officer of EODMU 11.

Haywood assumed command of EODMU 11 in June 2016. During his time as commander he served as and deployed as the commander for a 165-person task group which conducted expeditionary mine countermeasures, explosive ordnance disposal, weapons technical intelligence, and diving and salvage operations throughout the Central Command area of responsibility. His actions enabled the task group's success during combat operations in Syria, and during numerous theater security cooperation events. His next assignment will be working at Assistant Secretary of Defense for Special Operations/Low-Intensity Conflict.

Kido was born in Honolulu and commissioned through the Naval Reserve Officers' Training Corps in 2001 from the University of Washington. Prior to assuming command, he served at on the staff of Commander, Navy Expeditionary Combat Command (NECC) as the defense support to civil authorities and battle staff officer in the operations department. While assigned to NECC, Kido supported efforts in Texas and Puerto Rico in response to Hurricanes Harvey, Irma and Maria.

"To the dedicated Sailors of EOD Mobile Unit 11 and to our mobile unit families, it is a privilege to join the EOD Mobile Unit 11 team and honor to serve with you," said Kido.

EODMU 11 provides operational EOD capability to include the location and identification, rendering safe, recovery, field evaluation, and disposal of all explosive ordnance, including chemical and nuclear weapons. U.S. Navy EOD is the world's premier combat force for countering explosive hazards in support of Navy, joint, interagency and coalition commanders across the full range of military operations.

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