Service members and civilians gathered together July 13 to witness the first Forward Deployed Regional Maintenance Center (FDRMC) Detachment Rota change of charge in Naval Station Rota history.

During the ceremony, Cmdr. Brian Karosich relieved Cmdr. Joseph Saegert as officer-in-charge. Capt. Jerome Xinni, commanding officer of FDRMC Norfolk, presided over the event and was the guest speaker.

"A little over two years ago, we stood up this detachment under the fortunate circumstances of having Joe Saegert here in Spain to lay the ground work and create a team and the image of his own creation," said Zinni. "He started and formed a team that has proven to be successful, executing four very successful ships' restricted availabilities and countless other availabilities and activities."

FDRMC Det. Rota became operational Dec. 10, 2013, with the mission to oversee industrial engineering and contractor services for the maintenance and modernization of four Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyers in Rota -- USS Porter (DDG 78), USS Donald Cook (DDG 75), USS Ross (DDG 71), and USS Carney (DDG 64).

"We've executed nearly 100,000 man days of repair and modernization, four major and numerous minor and smaller repair periods, completing all work on time and supporting both NATO and U.S. missions for the defense of Europe," said Saegert. "All this would not be possible without the intense dedication and hard work of many individuals operating as a team with a shared goal and a genuine sense of partnership. Without a doubt, we are a team, we are committed and we are successful."

Saegert went on to recognize the various partners who have assisted in FDRMC Det. Rota consistently completing their mission -- FDRMC Det. Rota staff, Spanish military members, Destroyer Squadron 60 and Naval Station Rota.

Karosich, a native of Bremerton, Washington, just completed his tour of duty as deputy, Hawaii Regional Maintenance Center at Pearl Harbor Naval Shipyard and is excited about joining his new command and the team that started it all.

"I knew the team that was chosen to stand up this organization and to sustain it into the future was going to be hand-picked, the best of the best, from a list of highly competitive personnel from across the entire regional maintenance center enterprise," said Karosich. "The first chapter's complete; the detachment has been successfully stood up. You should all be honored for what you have accomplished these past few years. The next chapter ... our mission, is now sustainment. To further solidify the processes that you have established, continue our path of excellence and grow and develop an organization to meet the ever changing needs of the Navy."

Saegert, a Mississippi native, will soon report to Commander, Naval Surface Forces, U.S. Pacific Fleet.

Naval Station Rota enables and supports operations of U.S. and allied forces and provides quality services in support of the fleet, fighter, and family for Commander, Navy Installations Command in Navy Region Europe, Africa, Southwest Asia.

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