Guided-missile destroyer USS Truxtun (DDG 103) held a change of command ceremony at Naval Station Norfolk, Jan. 19.

Cmdr. Troy Denison relieved Cmdr. Joseph A. Baggett to become Truxtun's seventh commanding officer since its commissioning in 2008.

The ceremony marked the end of a successful 17-month assignment for Baggett in which he commanded Truxtun during a basic phase training cycle; a work-up cycle with the George H.W. Bush Strike Group; and a two-month, independent Baltic operations deployment; all in preparation for the current deployment.

As Baggett reflected on his time as commanding officer, he highlighted his time in command with praise for a dynamic and well-trained crew.

"Again, down every road, through every turn, Truxtun Sailors performed at the highest levels," said Baggett. "Our morale remained high, regardless of the hours spent on the ship in port or underway. We have built a family here -- a family of fighting men and women who have each other's backs and who care as much about their ship as they do one another."

Denison is a native of Phoenix and enlisted in the Navy in 1993. Following his enlisted service, he entered the Virginia Military Institute and was subsequently commissioned in 1999.

The change of command ceremony is a time-honored tradition conducted before the assembled company of Sailors to announce the passing of command authority. The change of command of a naval ship is unique in the world today. It is a transfer, in an instant, of total responsibility, authority, and accountability from one individual to another.

Truxtun is currently underway on a scheduled deployment with the George H. W. Bush Carrier Strike Group.

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