Capt. Francis Spencer relieved Capt. Walter Coppeans as commanding officer, Naval Surface Warfare Center, Philadelphia Division during a change of command ceremony April 15.

Spencer reports to NSWCPD after serving most recently as the commanding officer of Naval Undersea Warfare Center Division, Keyport in Washington.

Upon commissioning as an ensign from the U.S. Naval Academy in 1989, Spencer completed the nuclear training pipeline and was qualified in submarines aboard USS Francis Scott Key (SSBN 657). An engineering duty officer since 1994, he has served as commanding officer of NUWC Keyport; major program manager of the Low-Observable/Counter Low-Observable Program Office (PMR-51) at the Office of Naval Research; and combat systems officer of USS Harry S. Truman (CVN 75). He also served in a variety of acquisition billets supporting the Virginia and Ohio Replacement Programs.

"Captain Spencer brings more than 26 years of operational and acquisition experience to Philadelphia, including service as the commanding officer of our sister NAVSEA (Naval Sea Systems Command) warfare center division in Keyport," said keynote speaker Rear Adm. Lorin Selby, commander, Naval Surface Warfare Center.

Coppeans retired from the Navy during the ceremony after more than 26 years of service.

"Capt. Coppeans made a valuable and enduring impact at NSWC Philadelphia Division and on our Navy over the course of his 26 year career," said Selby. "He has had a direct impact on the lead ships of four new ship classes -- all critical platforms of our current and future fleet."

NSWCPD employs approximately 1,745 civilian engineers, scientists, technicians, and support personnel doing research and development, test and evaluation, acquisition support, and in-service and logistics engineering for Navy ships. NSWCPD is also the lead organization providing cybersecurity for all ship systems.

"During the next three years and beyond we will establish key new capabilities here: the Cybersecurity Center of Excellence and the Compatibility Test Facility," said Spencer. "There is no work more important to our Navy than this work. NSWC Philadelphia will be proud of our efforts in these areas, which will toughen the fleet of the future in critical ways."

For more news from Naval Surface Warfare Center Carderock, visit www.navy.mil/.