Recruit Training Command (RTC) said farewell to one commanding officer and welcomed another, during a change of command ceremony held Aug. 23 at Midway Ceremonial Drill Hall.

More than 300 special guests, Sailors, family, and friends were in attendance as Capt. Michael Garrick relieved Capt. Douglas Pfeifle as commanding officer.

Pfeifle, a 35-year Navy veteran, served as the commanding officer of RTC since August 2014.

While serving as commanding officer, Pfeifle led more than 1,000 military and civilian staff members in the training of nearly 80,000 recruits during their transition from civilians to basically trained U.S. Navy Sailors. He hosted 96 pass-in-reviews for the Navy's most senior leadership, dignitaries, and family and friends of graduating recruits.

"Capt. Pfeifle has had a significant impact here at RTC," said Rear Adm. Stephen C. Evans, commander, Naval Service Training Command (NSTC), who served as the ceremony's keynote speaker. "Under his command, several Navy accession training programs have been successfully launched, and his passion and energy earned the command the 2015 Navy Total Force Retention Excellence Award."

Additionally, Pfeifle championed honor graduate ribbon initiatives to recognize meritorious performance during recruit training and piloted electronic tablet technology to enhance the training of 21st Century Sailors.

He also represented the Navy on the Joint Service Council on Recruit Basic Training, which consisted of flag and general officers working together to improve basic military training across all services including the Coast Guard, and he oversaw successful pilot programs regarding female hair standards, boot phase-in, nutrition and recruit and staff resiliency.

"After meeting many of the young men and women who you have transformed into stellar Sailors, I can say with confidence that your contribution to the future of the Navy reaches far beyond the gates of Recruit Training Command," Evans said. "Thank you for your dedication to excellence; I look forward to working with you as my chief of staff."

Pfeifle addressed the attendees with some final departing words.

"Everything that has been accomplished while at RTC would not have been possible without the hard work of the entire RTC team and I thank them for their unwavering dedication," said Pfeifle. "In my over 25 years in uniform, I have never worked with a better wardroom, Chiefs Mess, petty officers association or civilian staff."

As Pfeifle was drawing his remarks to a close, he left Garrick with these final words.

"They have done everything I have ever asked of them. I know you will do a superb job," Pfeifle said.

Garrick received his commission through the United States Naval Academy in 1994 with a Bachelor of Science in English literature. Prior to taking the helm at RTC, he served two tours at the Electronic Attack Weapons School, where he commanded from August 2012 to November 2013. Most recently, he has been a member of the 2016 Royal College of Defence Studies in London, United Kingdom.

"Recruit Training Command is unlike any other command in the Navy and I am excited for this opportunity," said Garrick. "I look forward to continuing the CNO and MCPON's vision for Navy accession training with programs like the eSailor initiative."

Garrick mirrored Pfeifle's sentiments as he addressed the staff and guests.

"I am honored to command the Navy's only boot camp," said Garrick.

RTC is overseen by NSTC, headquartered in Great Lakes. NSTC oversees 98 percent of initial officer and enlisted accessions training for the Navy.

NSTC also oversees the Naval Reserve Officers Training Corps at more than 160 colleges and universities, Officer Training Command at Naval Station Newport, Rhode Island, and Navy Junior Reserve Officers Training Corps and Navy National Defense Cadet Corps citizenship development programs at more than 600 high schools worldwide.

For more news from Recruit Training Command, visit http://www.navy.mil/local/rtc/.
For more information about NSTC, visit http://www.netc.navy.mil/nstc/ or visit the NSTC Facebook pages at http://www.facebook.com/NavalServiceTraining/.

For more news from Recruit Training Command, visit www.navy.mil/.