Military Sealift Command names East Pacific commander
Sealift Logistics Command Pacific, the San Diego-based U.S. Navy command in charge of the Military Sealift Command's ships in the Eastern Pacific, changed command during a ceremony Friday on board the fleet replenishment oiler USNS Guadalupe at the San Diego naval station.
Capt. David K. Kiehl was relieved by Capt. Jerome Hamel.
Since assuming command of SEALOGPAC in 2007, Kiehl has overseen a range of operations and exercises, including deployment of hospital ship USNS Mercy in support of the 2008 Pacific Partnership humanitarian mission, a 2008 Joint Logistics Over the Shore exercise, and the 2008 Rim of the Pacific exercise. Kiehl will now serve as chief of staff to the commander of the Carrier Strike Group 11.
Hamel comes to SEALOGPAC after an assignment in Washington, where he served on the chief of naval operations' staff. He has served in numerous naval assignments both at sea and ashore. Hamel is a 1985 graduate of the Massachusetts Maritime Academy.
SEALOGPAC is one of five worldwide operational commands of the Navy's Military Sealift Command. The command operates about 110 non-combatant, merchant mariner-crewed ships that replenish Navy vessels, conduct specialized missions, preposition combat cargo at sea around the world, and move military cargo and supplies used by deployed U.S. forces.