The Arleigh Burke-class guided missile destroyer USS Fitzgerald (DDG 62) during a change of command ceremony at Commander, Fleet Activities Yokosuka, Aug. 25.

Cmdr. Garrett Miller relieved Cmdr. John "Jack" Fay as commanding officer of the Fitzgerald and her crew.

Fay was appointed as the interim commanding officer in July 2017.

"This crew should be proud," said Miller. "Always be proud that you are a Fitzgerald Sailor. I am honored to lead this ship through the repairs and modernizations so Fitz can return to the fleet and fight again."

Miller enlisted in the United States Navy as a Quartermaster in 1991 and was assigned to the pre-commissioning crew of USS Shiloh (CG 67). As Quartermaster 1st Class, he was selected for the Enlisted Commissioning Program in 1996, attended San Diego State University and was commissioned in December of 1997.His sea command includes USS Decatur (DDG 73).

The crew of Fitzgerald, currently in Yokosuka, Japan, is preparing for a heavy lift to Pascagoula, Mississippi, where repairs will take place to restore the ship.

Fitzgerald is one of eight destroyers assigned to Destroyer Squadron (DESRON) 15 and forward-deployed to Yokosuka, Japan, in support of security and stability in the Indo-Asia-Pacific.




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