Sailors, civilians, local nationals, family and friends gathered, May 10, for a change of command ceremony aboard Naval Air Station Sigonella, Sicily, during which Capt. Brent Trickel relieved Capt. Christopher Dennis as commanding officer.

Base Chaplain Lt. Cmdr. Edward Erwin provided the invocation. Guest speaker Rear Adm. Rick Williamson, commander, Navy Region Europe, Africa, Southwest Asia, then delivered remarks.

Williamson expressed his appreciation to Italy, the host nation, and to the Sailors aboard NAS Sigonella, noting his gratitude for the "professionalism with which you carry out your responsibilities."

After receiving his end of tour award, Dennis thanked the Sigonella community and his family in both English and Italian. He reflected on the highlights of his three years as commanding officer, during which time the base hosted more than 200 distinguished visitors, and donated more than 20,000 community service hours helping the local community in 2015 alone.

"You truly are the 'Hub of the Med.' You keep the base secure, the water running, the planes flying... In a word, you do everything and you are awesome," Dennis told the audience.

Dennis will serve as professor of naval science for the Naval Reserve Officers' Training Corps unit at the University of Michigan.

Trickel read his orders, pronouncing himself the new commanding officer of NAS Sigonella, and addressed the audience in both Italian and English.

"I look forward to taking the reins of Sigonella from Captain Dennis and will continue to foster the wonderful sense of community and teamwork he has instilled, and will take on board his tenets of security, resource conservation, and health and welfare. I will continue the outstanding relationship with our Italian hosts, joint partners, and allies, and I look forward to making Sigonella an even better place in conjunction with Colonel Fedele."

Naval Air Station Sigonella, "The Hub of the Med," is a U.S. Navy installation and an Italian Air Force base in Sicily, Italy. NAS Sigonella is the Navy's second largest security command, second only to that located at Naval Support Activity Bahrain. Because of its location near the center of the Mediterranean Sea, NASSIG is well placed to support operations by the U.S. 6th Fleet, other U.S. military units, and U.S. allies and coalition partners.

For more news from Commander, Navy Region Europe, Africa, Southwest Asia, visit http://www.navy.mil/local/cnre/.

For more news from Naval Air Station Sigonella, visit http://www.navy.mil/.