US Navy’s Destroyer Squadron Fifteen (CDS 15) received a new commander in a change of command ceremony at Commander Fleet Activities Yokosuka, Aug. 7.
During the ceremony Capt. Christopher J. Sweeney relieved Capt. Shan M. Byrne as commodore of CDS 15.
Byrne, CDS 15’s 54th commodore, began his tour as the squadron’s deputy commodore in December 2012 and assumed command April 4, 2014. Under Byrne’s command, CDS 15 reached many milestones including establishing a sustainment program to ensure forward-deployed ships receive proper maintenance and repairs, formulating a distinctive program for U.S. Navy ships to seamlessly conduct tactical training with Japan Maritime Self Defense Force (JMSDF) ships, and codifying a concept of operations to ensure forward-deployed ships operate in purposeful places throughout the Indo-Asia-Pacific region.
Incoming commodore, Sweeney is a native of the Eastern Shore of Md., and a 1991 graduate of the United States Naval Academy. He has served in a diverse range of sea and shore assignments. Sweeney’s sea duty assignments include numerous cruisers and destroyers deployed to the Middle East, Western Pacific, Mediterranean and South America. Finally, he commanded the Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Decatur (DDG 73) from 2009-2010, deploying twice to the Arabian Gulf in support of U.S. and coalition forces in Iraq and Afghanistan.
CDS 15 is the Navy’s largest forward-deployed destroyer squadron; responsible for readiness, administration, and tactical control of seven Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyers as well as all destroyers deployed to the U.S. 7th Fleet area of responsibility (AOR).
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Image: US Navy