USS John C. Stennis holds change of command ceremony

ByPettyOfficer2ndClass

ThomasPittman

USS John C. Stennis (CVN 74)

NEWPORTNEWS,Va Capt J.Patrick Thompson relieved Capt Cassidy Norman as commanding officer of the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS John C. Stennis (CVN 74)duringachangeofcommandceremony heldMay18,2023 Theceremonytookplace as Stennis continues its Refueling Complex and Overhaul (RCOH) at Newport News Shipbuilding Norman assumed command of the seventhNimitz-classaircraftcarrierDecember 2020, and successfully led her through the early phases of RCOH and out of the COVID-19 pandemic.Norman thanked the crew for their dedication as they continue toworktowardgettingtheshipredelivered tothefleet

“Despite the dynamic challenges, I absolutelyenjoyedservingon,andleading,Team 74,” said Norman. “I’m honored to have served this team, giving John C. Stennis its second half of life and also by working to make the RCOH experience better for Sailors,bothnowandinthedecadestocome.

The ceremony’s presiding officer and formercommandingofficerofJohnC.Stennis (2018-2020), Rear Adm. Randall Peck, praised Norman’s leadership during his time in command. Peck then welcomed a familiar face, Capt. Thompson, who served as executive officer during Peck’s tenure of commandingJohnC.Stennis

“Captain Norman has left his imprint on the crew and they know what their captain expects from them and understand what is required to get Stennis back in the fight,” saidPeck.“ToCaptainThompson,youwere groomed for this job No one understands thepast,presentand future of John C. Stennis like you do Congratulations as you take command in the second chapter of a storied history in thedecadeofinfluence.”

During his previous time onboard, Thompson saw first-hand the capabilities of John C. Stennis as it completed its most recentdeploymentpriortoenteringRCOH. During his remarks, Thompson explained how he’s excited to see a similar characteristicpresentthroughoutthecrew

“Ican’ttellyouhowgooditistobeback,” saidThompson.“Whiletheshiplooksalittle different than it did in October of 2020, the culture and camaraderie is the same. The same spirit that allowed this crew to clean sweep all of the major awards and set records for cleanliness, material condition, andthe3Mprogramremainshere Nothing makesmehappier.”

Thompson,a1997graduatefromtheU.S. NavalAcademywithaBachelorofSciencein NavalArchitecture,commissionedasanaval officer and went on to earn his “Wings of Gold”in1999 Hehasloggedover3000flight hoursinvariousH-60aircraft,anddeployed eleventimes,

NEWPORTNEWS,Va (May18 2023) Command MasterChiefRobert Barber(right),presents Capt.CassidyNorman,commanding officerof the Nimitz-class aircraft carrierUSSJohn C.Stennis (CVN 74),with his commissioning pennant during a change ofcommand ceremony.John C. Stennis is in Newport News Shipyard conducting Refueling and ComplexOverhaul to prepare the ship forthe second halfofits 50-yearservice life.(U.S.NAVYPHOTOBYMASSCOMMUNICATIONSPECIALISTSEAMANDANIELPEREZ) supportingnumerousnamedoperations

Thompson served as executive officer and commanding officer at HSC-85 between 2014 and 2015 After completion of nuclear training he served as executive officer onboard Stennis From 2021-2022, ThompsonbroughtUSSMesaVerde(LPD19)outofamaintenanceavailabilityandled the ship through the Basic Phase in preparation for her first operational tasking in nearly four years

Beforedepartingthe shipforafinaltime, Normanengravedhisinitialsintothe‘Senate desk’, a ship tradition similar to the tradition that U.S. Senators have kept since the CivilWarwheretheycarvetheirinitialsinto theirdesksontheSenatefloorastheyleave office EverycommandingofficerofStennis has diligently followed this tradition to pay homagetoSen.JohnC.Stennis JohnC.StennisisinNewportNewsShipyard conducting Refueling and Complex Overhaultopreparetheshipforthesecond halfofits50-yearservicelife.

For more news on John C. Stennis, visit www.stennis.navy.mil or follow along on social media at www.facebook.com/stennis74 on Facebook, stenniscvn74 on Instagram,and@stennis74onTwitter

NEWPORTNEWS,Va (May18 2023) Capt.CassidyNorman (left),turns overthe duties and responsibilities ofcommanding officerofthe Nimitz-class aircraft carrierJohn C.Stennis (CVN 74),to Capt.J.PatrickThompson,during a change ofcommand ceremonyheld in the ship’s fo’c’sle.John C.Stennis is in Newport News Shipyard conducting Refueling and