Cmdr. Adam L. Fleming relieved Cmdr. Randy J. Van Rossum as commanding officer of the guided-missile destroyer USS Wayne E. Meyer (DDG 108) during a change of command ceremony at Cesar Chavez Park in San Diego, March 31.

The ceremony's guest speaker, Capt. Robert B. Chadwick, commander, Destroyer Squadron 21, praised Van Rossum's phenomenal work as commanding officer and offered his wishes for similar success for Fleming.

"I have been here for every day of Cmdr. Van Rossum's command tour, and I wouldn't have missed it for the world" said Chadwick. "As he turns over command, I am confident that Cmdr. Fleming is exactly the kind of commanding officer who can lead this crew to continued success."

During Van Rossum's tour as commanding officer of Wayne E. Meyer, he led the ship through a series of pre-deployment certifications and exercises, and an independent deployment to the U.S. 7th Fleet area of responsibility.

"The most important thing I'll remember from deployment is not the operations or the missions that we accomplished, but rather the fact that we brought every Sailor safely back to their family," said Van Rossum. "Every outstanding reputation that Wayne E. Meyer has is a direct result of this great crew."

Van Rossum then read his orders and relinquished command to Fleming, who read his orders and addressed the audience as commanding officer of the ship for the first time.

"I am truly honored and humbled to be taking command of a naval warship and especially proud to take command of Wayne E. Meyer," said Fleming. "The crew standing in front of me today serves as tribute to the finest Navy to ever serve this nation."

Fleming took command as part of the fleet-up program where he first served as the ship's executive officer.

His previous assignments include Integrated Air and Missile Defense Action Officer at U.S. Pacific Command, Fleet Training Officer and Fleet Command Center Director for Commander, U.S. Pacific Fleet, and Engineer Officer aboard USS Mobile Bay (CG 53) and USS Chung Hoon (DDG 93).

Van Rossum's next assignment will be at the Naval Personnel Command in Millington, Tennessee.

Wayne E. Meyer recently returned from a deployment to the U.S. 7th Fleet area of responsibility and is nearing the end of a selected restricted availability maintenance period at Continental Maritime of San Diego.

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