Naval Supply Systems Command Weapon Systems Support (NAVSUP WSS) held a relinquishment of command ceremony at its Philadelphia site, June 22.

Over 300 attendees, including retired military flag officers, senior executive service members from various commands, family, friends and NAVSUP WSS Philadelphia, Mechanicsburg and Norfolk workforces honored Rear Adm. Paul Verrastro during the ceremony.

Verrastro has served as NAVSUP WSS Commander since March 2015 and will now assume duties as Director of Logistics, J-4, United States European Command Stuttgart, Germany.

"It has been my absolute privilege to lead this incredibly talented team of professional Sailors, Marines, civilians and Reservists," said Verrastro. "And I am confident this team will continue to be the professional logisticians the fleet relies on for support."

The ceremony concluded with Verrastro relinquishing command to NAVSUP WSS Vice Commander, Lynn Kohl. Kohl previously served as NAVSUP assistant commander for Enterprise Logistics Engineering before becoming NAVSUP WSS vice commander in February.

The Navy's relinquishment of command ceremony is a variation of the time-honored change of command and is held when the relieving commander has yet to be named. It is a formal ritual conducted before the assembled command, as well as honored guests and dignitaries, to provide continuity of authority and responsibility of command.

A field activity of the Naval Supply Systems Command, NAVSUP WSS is the U.S. Navy's supply chain manager providing worldwide support to the aviation, surface ship, and submarine communities. NAVSUP WSS provides Navy, Marine Corps, joint and allied forces with products and services that deliver combat capability through logistics. There are more than 2,000 civilian and military personnel employed at its two Pennsylvania sites and Norfolk site. The NAVSUP WSS Philadelphia site supports aircraft, while its Mechanicsburg site supports ships and submarines. The NAVSUP WSS Norfolk site supports aircraft, ships, submarines and transportation and distribution.

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