Guided-missile destroyer USS Farragut (DDG 99) held a change of command ceremony March 18.

Cmdr. Megan A. Thomas relieved Cmdr. Cory R. Applebee as commanding officer of Farragut in front of more than 100 special guests, Sailors, friends and family.

Prior to assuming command of Farragut in Nov. 2014, Applebee served as Farragut's executive officer during Farragut's 2012 post-deployment maintenance availability and work ups. As commanding officer, Applebee led Farragut during a successful deployment with the USS Theodore Roosevelt Carrier Strike Group as part of Operation Inherent Resolve.

Under Applebee's leadership, Farragut received numerous awards, including the 2014 and 2015 Battle "E."

"I will never forget the time I have spent aboard Farragut," said Applebee. "When you come together as much as our ship has during a deployment, everyone becomes family. It has been my honor serving as Farragut's captain."

Thomas, who joined the Farragut crew in Nov. 2014 as executive officer, is a native of Pennsylvania and earned her commission through the Pennsylvania State University NROTC program in 1997. She completed sea tours aboard USS Milius (DDG 69), USS George Washington (CVN 73), USS Mitscher (DDG 57) and USS Enterprise (CVN 65).

Ashore, Thomas served as Officer Candidate School distribution branch head at Navy Recruiting Command Headquarters in Millington, Tenn., as a member of the Commander's Action Group at Naval Surface Force, Atlantic, and as a surface warfare officer detailer and placement officer at Navy Personnel Command. Thomas earned a Master of Arts in National Security and Strategic Studies from the U.S. Naval War College.

Her personal decorations include the Meritorious Service Medal (two gold stars), the Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medals (three gold stars), the Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal (two gold stars), and various other service awards.

"I am truly excited and honored to take command of USS Farragut and her exceptional Sailors," said Thomas. "During Cmdr. Applebee's tenure, the crew performed extremely well during a period of high operational tempo while keeping morale high. I am grateful to Cmdr. Applebee for his outstanding leadership over the last three years as both executive officer and commanding officer and for all that he has taught me."

Farragut is continuing local operations after recently returning from a 2015 deployment and will enter a maintenance period later this year.

For more news from Commander, Naval Surface Force, U.S. Atlantic Fleet, visit www.navy.mil/.