The Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Mitscher (DDG 57) conducted a change of command ceremony on the ship’s flight deck while transiting the eastern Mediterranean Sea on April 10, 2015.
During the ceremony, Cmdr. Milciades “Tony” Then relieved Cmdr. Frank E. Brandon as Mitscher’s commanding officer.
The ceremony marked the end of an 18 month tour for Brandon, who will now report to COMNAVAIRPAC Sea Component for duty.
Under Brandon’s command, Mitscher conducted multiple missions during the deployment that reinforced maritime security operations and theater security cooperation efforts, including a n underway engagement with the Turkish navy, a n international mine countermeasure exercise, a ballistic missile defense exercise, a squadron exercise, a joint air defense exercise, and exercises Spartan Kopis, and Iron Magic, Operation Active Endeavor and Operation Inherent Resolve.
Prior to taking command, Cmdr.Then served as Mitscher’s executive officer for 18 months as part of the Navy’s executive officer/commanding officer (XO/CO) fleet-up program.
Cmdr. Then will command Mitscher as its return to its homeport in Norfolk later this year. The ship is slated to participate in Harborfest, PROTRAMID, midshipmen training, and will take part in more ballistic missile defense exercises before pulling into the yards for combat systems upgrades.
Mitscher is currently serving as an independent deployer alongside the Carl Vinson Carrier Strike Group in both the U.S. 5th Fleet and U.S. 6th Fleet areas of operation.
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Image: US Navy