USS Wayne E. Meyer (DDG 108) held a change of command ceremony in the ship’s homeport of San Diego, Aug. 30.
During the ceremony, Cmdr. William H. Baxter turned over command of the guided missile destroyer to Cmdr. Randy J. Van Rossum, who has previously served as the ship’s executive officer.
The ceremony marked the end of a very successful 18-month command tour for Baxter. He is credited with leading Wayne E. Meyer through an intensive training cycle and ensured the ship is prepared for an upcoming deployment.
“It has been an absolute pleasure serving our nation’s finest as their captain,” Baxter told the crew during the ceremony. “The crew has performed admirably and has promptly and professionally answered the call every time.”
Baxter said he was extremely grateful to the ship’s crew, chief petty officers mess and wardroom. His next assignment will be as the head surface warfare junior officer detailer at the Bureau of Naval Personnel in Millington, Tenn.
Van Rossum is a 1995 graduate of the University of Wisconsin-Madison. He was commissioned an ensign through officer candidate school and earned a Master’s Degree in Business Administration from Loyola University.
As part of the executive officer-commanding officer fleet-up program, Van Rossum first reported to Wayne E. Meyer in July 2012.
[mappress] Press Release, September 02, 2013