Capt. Michael Kenney Jr. relieved Capt. Kevin Bartoe as Naval Facilities Engineering Command (NAVFAC) Far East commanding officer during a change of command ceremony onboard Fleet Activities Yokosuka, Japan, July 27.

Kenney also assumes responsibility as regional engineer for Commander, Navy Region Japan; Commander, U.S. Navy Region Korea; and Singapore Area Coordinator.

"To fellow commanding officers and leaders, NAVFAC Far East exists to deliver your shore facilities, utilities, transportation, energy and environmental requirements," said Kenney in prepared remarks. "I will continue NAVFAC Far East's proud tradition and culture of ensuring your shore requirements are met and even push hard to exceed your expectations."

Kenney has worked previously at NAVFAC Far East as operations officer from 2011-2013. Since then, he has been assigned as NAVFAC Northwest executive officer and Naval Station Norfolk public works officer. Kenney's naval service began in 1993 after graduating from the University of Southern California with a Bachelor of Science in Aerospace Engineering while on an Naval Reserve Officers Training Corps (NROTC) scholarship. He is a registered professional engineer in the state of California.

Bartoe will continue his naval service as facilities and environmental director for Commander, Navy Installations Command onboard the Washington Navy Yard.

During the ceremony, Bartoe was presented the Legion of Merit. He also received a letter of commendation from Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF) Chief of Staff Yutaka Murakawa, presented by JMSDF Commandant Yokosuka District Chief of Staff Rear Adm. Takayuki Sugimoto.

While Bartoe led NAVFAC Far East, the command supported the relocation of littoral combat ships to Singapore, repaired the Futenma Airfield, and modernized a water treatment facility on Diego Garcia. NAVFAC Far East also made significant repairs to dry docks at Fleet Activities Sasebo and Yokosuka, and to Tengan Pier, the only ammunition pier at Fleet Activities Okinawa. The command received numerous environmental awards and had one of the best safety programs in the NAVFAC enterprise.

"Our current Chief of Naval Operations Admiral Richardson has reminded us all that it is the strong leadership characteristics and solid moral character of our uniformed and civilian Navy team members that ensure mission success," said Bartoe. "In short, it is the people of NAVFAC Far East that make this command move forward. We have outstanding engineers, planners, environmental scientists, financial specialists, information technology specialists, equipment operators, utility plant operators, carpenters, high voltage electricians, welders, and many other professionals working hard every day to deliver facilities and environmental services to 7th Fleet and III Marine Expeditionary Force."

NAVFAC Far East has a workforce of more than 2,000 military, U.S. civilian and host nation employees who provide a full range of facilities and engineering services to Navy, Marine Corps and other federal agencies in Japan, Korea, Singapore and the British Indian Ocean Territory (Diego Garcia).

For more news from Commander, Naval Forces Japan, visit http://www.navy.mil/.