New Mideast commander for U.S. sealift logistics

New Mideast commander for U.S. sealift logistics    The U.S. Military Sealift Command announced Monday that Navy Capt. Donald D. Hodge will be in charge of its logistics activities in the Middle East.
   Hodge, who served as chief of staff for the Naval Surface Group Middle Pacific in Hawaii, replaced Capt. Stephen H. Kelley, who held the position since July 2008.
   In addition to heading the Sealift Logistics Command Central in the Middle East, Hodge will serve as commander of Task Force 53 and head of logistics forces for the Naval Forces Central Command. In these roles, he is responsible for coordinating the air and sea delivery of people, mail, cargo, fuel, ammunition and provisions to a fleet of 40-plus U.S. and coalition ships operating in Middle East waters.
   Under Kelley's leadership, the command oversaw 1,100 underway replenishments at sea involving the delivery of 178 million gallons of fuel to ships in theater and 484 million gallons of fuel to Defense Department fuel distribution depots. The command also supported more than 5,500 air logistics missions and managed a daily average of nine ships and 10 aircraft in theater. The aviation unit coordinated and moved more than 15,000 tons of cargo, 6,000 tons of mail and 38,000 passengers during Kelley's tour.