US Navy’s CSG 4 changes command

Rear Admiral Richard W. Butler who has been the Commander of Carrier Strike Group (CSG) 4 since July 31, 2014 was succeeded by Rear Adm. Bruce H. Lindsey on December 11.

The change of command ceremony was also a retirement ceremony since the former Commander Buttler retired from the Navy after more than 30 years of service.

After more than three decades of service to the nation, Rear Adm. Richard W. Butler bid farewell to the Navy during a change of command and retirement ceremony Dec. 11, at Carrier Strike Group (CSG) 4 in the historic building N-23 on Naval Station Norfolk.

Rear Admiral Buttler said: “It’s been an honor and a privilege to serve as commander of Carrier Strike Group 4.”

CSG-4 trains Atlantic Fleet combat forces through a mixture of academic, synthetic and live training evolutions. The command’s signature event is the composite training exercise (COMPTUEX), which evaluates the mission-readiness of CSGs and amphibious ready groups (ARGs) to forward deploy in defense of national interests.

U. S. Fleet Forces Commander Adm. Philip Davidson, the featured speaker for the event, said about Buttler: “You’ve implemented more warfighting changes during the past 18 months than we had in the past 18 years. Training our strike groups, our ARGs and our sailors is the most important thing we do. Carrier Strike Group 4, your efforts provide a warfighting edge that has powered our Navy, and your recent and continuing innovation will help maintain that advantage.”

Lindsey, a U.S. Naval Academy graduate, takes charge at CSG-4 after commanding CSG-10.

Formerly known as Commander, Strike Force Training Atlantic, CSG-4, along with subordinate commands, Tactical Training Group Atlantic, and Expeditionary Warfare Training Group Atlantic, prepares every Atlantic-based CSGs, ARG and independent deployer for sustained, forward-deployed, high tempo operations.