Navy Operational Support Center (NOSC) Baltimore’s held a change of command ceremony aboard USS Constellation on Aug. 2.
Cmdr. John B. Downes relieved Cmdr. Andrew M. Cawfield as commanding officer.
Lt. Cmdr. Christopher Barnes, NOSC executive officer, described the time-honored ceremony as one of the Navy’s oldest traditions which began more than 200 years ago, and that little has changed in the way the ceremony is conducted in present day.
During a traditional ceremony the departing commanding officer receives an award which is earned for notable accomplishments while serving in a commanding position. Cawfield chose to receive his award a few days prior the ceremony, and allowed that time to recognize the accomplishments of Sailors assigned to NOSC Baltimore.
Cawdfield’s next assignment will be as an instructor to international, interagency and U.S. military students at National Defense University located in Washington, D.C. According to Cawfield, his new position as a faculty member at National Defense University will be a change in pace as his level of responsibility changes from commanding 32 reserve units with more than 1000 personnel to commanding a classroom.
The incoming commanding officer, Downes, is a native of Maryland and received his commission as an officer from the U.S. Naval Academy in 1994. Since then Downes has attended Surface Warfare Officer School, Basic Diving Salvage Officer School and Explosive Ordinance Disposal School prior to joining the Navy Reserve and in 2011 transferring to Navy Reserve Full-Time Support. Downes has been called upon to support various sea, operational and shore based assignments throughout his career. This will be his first assignment as a commanding officer.
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