Rear Adm. Stanley Bozin. (Kendra Helmer / S&S)
Rear Adm. Stanley Bozin. (Kendra Helmer / S&S)
Rear Adm. Michael Holmes, center, receives the Legion of Merit from Adm. Gregory G. Johnson during Holmes’ change of command ceremony Friday at Capodichino in Naples, Italy. Looking on at right is Rear Adm. Stanley Bozin, who relieved Holmes as commander, Fleet Air Mediterranean. (Kendra Helmer / S&S)
NAPLES, Italy — Rear Adm. Stanley Bozin assumed the helm as commander of Fleet Air Mediterranean on Friday.
Bozin relieved Rear Adm. Michael Holmes, a fellow Orion pilot, during a change of command ceremony at Capodichino.
Bozin will wear three other hats: commander, Maritime Air Allied Naval Forces South; commander, Maritime Surveillance and Reconnaissance Forces, U.S. 6th Fleet; and commander, Naval Surface Group Mediterranean.
Among the numerous subordinate commands under his control are the USS La Salle, Heavy Helicopter Combat Support Squadron 4 in Sigonella, Sicily; and Orion patrol squadrons at Naval Air Stations Rota, Spain; Keflavik, Iceland; and Sigonella, Sicily.
Bozin, 51, reports to Naples following a tour of duty with the assistant secretary of Navy (financial management and comptroller of the Navy) as the head of the appropriations matters office.
The Union, N.J., native has been awarded the Defense Superior Service Medal, two Legion of Merit medals, two Meritorious Service medals and the Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal.
Holmes, 52, who took over as the Med fleet commander in July 2001, will serve as commander, Patrol Reconnaissance Group in Norfolk, Va.
Adm. Gregory Johnson, Naval Forces Europe commander, called Holmes an “extraordinary wartime leader” and presented him with the Legion of Merit, which cites his “outstanding performance and visionary leadership” during Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom.
“I couldn’t be more proud of you and your families,” Holmes said in a speech thanking sailors for their dedication.
About 1,600 personnel are assigned to the Fleet Air Mediterranean.
