Cmdr. Gina McCaine relieved Cmdr. James Juster as commanding officer of the guided missile destroyer USS O’Kane (DDG 77) during a change of command ceremony at sea, Nov. 19.
McCaine, the former executive officer of O’Kane, became the ship’s 11th commanding officer since the ship’s commissioning Oct. 23, 1999.
For Juster, the ceremony marked the end of a successful 18 month command tour highlighted by a nine month deployment to U.S. 5th and 7th fleets where O’Kane conducted numerous demanding missions with various carrier strike groups. He reported to O’Kane in October 2011 as the ship’s executive officer prior to taking command in May 2013.
Juster’s next assignment will be a staff position at the Pentagon.
Press release, Image: US Navy