Cmdr. Robert S. Gerosa Jr. assumed the duties as 74th commanding officer of USS Constitution from Cmdr. Sean D. Kearns during a change of command ceremony aboard the ship Aug. 14 in Dry Dock 1 at Charlestown Navy Yard.
Gerosa, a native of New Rochelle, New York, is a 1990 graduate of Iona Preparatory School and graduated from Providence College in May 1994 with a bachelor’s degree in history. He was selected to attend Naval Officer Candidate School in Pensacola, Florida, and upon completion was commissioned as an ensign in September 1997.
As Constitution’s commanding officer, Gerosa will oversee the remainder of the ship’s restoration efforts while in dry dock and prepare the ship and its crew for refloating in 2017 and the traditional Boston Harbor underways tentatively scheduled to follow in 2018.
Kearns, who assumed command of Constitution in July 2013, will next report as executive officer of the Zumwalt-class guided missile destroyer Pre-Commissioning Unit (PCU) Michael Monsoor (DDG 1001) under construction in Bath, Maine. Kearns has been selected for the rank of captain and will be promoted on Sept. 1, 2015.
USS Constitution, America’s Ship of State, actively defended sea lanes against global threats from 1797-1855.
Constitution is currently dry docked in Charlestown Navy Yard for a multi-year planned restoration period.
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Image: US Navy