 Good morning ladies and gentlemen and aloha to preserve the dignity of this ceremony we ask that everyone turn off all cellular phones and other wireless devices. It is a beautiful morning onboard the historic USS Missouri here on Ford Island joint-based Pearl Harbor Hickam. I am IS-1 Cahailani Wilcox and it is my honor to be your master of ceremonies today. On behalf of the Commander United States Indo-Pacific Command Admiral John C. Aquilino and Commander Special Operations Command General Richard D. Clark welcome to the change of command ceremony for the United States Special Operations Command Pacific. In this ceremony Major General Joshua M. Rudd United States Army will relinquish command to rear Admiral Jeremy B. Williams United States Navy. We would like to extend a special welcome to our distinguished guests and attendants at today's ceremony. Mrs. Ainslie Rudd spouse of the outgoing commander US Special Operations Command Pacific and Mrs. Stephanie Williams spouse of the incoming commander US Special Operations Command Pacific and their two daughters. Special Operations Command Pacific would also like to welcome all general and flag officers, console generals, community civic leaders, military leaders, friends and family who are here with us today to witness this momentous occasion. Thank you all so much for attending. Providing our music this morning is the Marine Corps Forces Pacific Band playing under the direction of Staff Sergeant Solier. Please join me in recognizing them for their outstanding pre-con, pre-ceremony concert. In just a moment the commander United States Indo-Pacific Command Admiral John Aquilino, the commander United States Special Operations Command General Richard Clark, the commander United States Special Operations Command Pacific Major General Josh Rudd, rear Admiral Jeremy Williams incoming commander United States Special Operations Command Pacific will arrive. Ladies and gentlemen please stand for the arrival of the official party and the rendering of honors. In accordance with naval traditions we will be piping aboard the official party. It is customary to hand salute from the first note of the Bosun's pipe through the ruffles and flourishes music by the band. Today's side boy detail is comprised of members from the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps and Coast Guard who represent more than 370,000 service members located throughout the Indo-Pacific Command area of responsibility. Rear Admiral United States Navy arriving Special Operations Command Pacific arriving Special Operations Command arriving Indo-Pacific Command arriving. Please remain standing for the parading of the national colors the national anthem the Hawaii State song and the invocation. Parade the colors. Ladies and gentlemen our national anthem followed by the Hawaii State song. Bosun retire the side boys. Chaplain Ruston Hill will now offer the invocation. Thank you Chaplain Hill. Ladies and gentlemen please take your seats and remain seated throughout the remainder of the ceremony. The 25th Infantry Division Ha'a was written and gifted to the division in 2014 by Kyle Nakane Lua and Thomas Kauulu Kukui Jr. It was first performed publicly for the division Change of Command between Major Generals William K. Fullard and Charles A. Flynn. The Ha'a is a Hawaiian tradition which portrays the skill and discipline of the warrior. Similar to military drill the Ha'a celebrates the spirit of Hawaiian koa or the warrior and embodies the virtues of aloha courage unity loyalty and mana or power and authority. The 25th Infantry Division Ha'a speaks to the legacy of the division and our connection to the people of this land their ancestors and warrior spirit. Its translation can be seen in your programs. Ladies and gentlemen the 25th ID Hui Ha'a. Thank you 25th ID Hui Ha'a. At this time the service member of the quarter sergeant Sean Hill will distribute lays to Major General Rudd and Rear Admiral Williams. These lays will be presented to the family members on behalf of SOC PAC. Mrs. Ainsley Rudd spouse of the outgoing commander US Special Operations Command Pacific and Mrs. Stephanie Williams spouse of the incoming commander US Special Operations Command Pacific and their two daughters. SOC PAC was activated on November 1st 1983 but its roots date back to the Vietnam era. SOC PAC provides the commander US Indo-Pacific Command with a joint special operations force that lives and works in the Indo-Pacific region. Supporting security and stability in the US Indo-Pacom area of responsibility including 36 countries encompassing half of the earth's surface. SOC PAC is a subunified command of United States Special Operations Command under the operational control of US Indo-Pacom working side by side with the United States Army Pacific Command Pacific Air Forces Pacific Fleet and Marine Corps Forces Pacific. SOC PAC is one of seven theater special operations commands around the globe. SOC PAC has operational control of the 350 third special operations wing out of Kadena Air Force Base located in Okinawa, Japan. First battalion first special forces group located in Tori Station Okinawa, Japan and Naval Special Warfare Task Unit 1 located in Guam. The change of command ceremony is a time honored military tradition that marks the transfer of responsibility and authority from a current commander to his successor. From antiquity military units designed representative banners which today are known as unit flags, colors or guidons. These banners were carried into battle by military units as markers of the unit commander's location, its direction of movement or attack or as a symbol of victory waved at the conclusion of battle. In time this important symbol became a prominent part of military ceremonies and in ceremonies marking changes of command is used to communicate to all that the leadership of a military unit is transferring from the hands of the outgoing commander to the officer selected to take his place. This symbolic tradition has endured throughout modern military history and will be continued here today. Key to the change of command is the passing of the unit's colors. These colors represent not only the heritage and history of the unit but also the unity and loyalty of its service members. The colors are the commander's symbol representing his responsibilities to the organization wherever the commander is. We will now begin the change of command ceremony with the passing of the colors. Of Special Operations Command Pacific Walter Zakowski will pass to Major General Rudd for the last time. As the senior enlisted soldier and principal advisor to the commander the custodian of the colors is the command senior enlisted leader. Major General Rudd passes the colors to Admiral Aquilino, relinquishing his responsibilities and authority associated with command. Admiral Aquilino passes the colors to rear Admiral Williams charging the new commander with the responsibility and authority of command. Effective 19 July 2022 rear Admiral Williams will assume all duties and responsibilities as the commander U.S. Special Operations Command Pacific. Rear Admiral Williams passes the colors to Command Sergeant Major Zakowski. The passing of the colors from the incoming commander to the Command Sergeant Major is his first act in command and verifies his confidence that the non-commissioned officer corps will continue to dress on the colors. Ladies and gentlemen the commander United States Indo-Pacific Command Admiral John Aquilino. Okay good morning and aloha. Alright so could we find a better venue you talk about time-honored traditions to stand on board this great warship the location of the instrument surrender with two of our finest warriors immediately following the 25th ID team if you're not pumped up something's wrong with you today that was incredible how about a round of applause for the 25th ID team. Well changes of commanders are always bittersweet. Before I get into my comments though I do have to thank and welcome a few people. First Josh thanks for asking me to speak I'm honored J.W. welcome to the team and it's always good to see my buddy Rich every time. Additionally for those who are unaware general of camera the U.S. forces Korea is in the front row so when you talk about a group of teammates they're all sitting in a room here. Polly great to have you out here today we miss your wife wish you could have come. To the rest of the team here to the Rudd family first of all Anzley thanks for all your dedicated support for those who are unaware in a small ceremony in advance of this we presented Anzley general Clark presented Anzley with an award for dedicated civilian leadership and her role as the commander's wife and taking care of all the special operations service members and their families please a round of applause for Anzley and for Josh again as humble as he is we presented him with the defense superior service medal and again in a ceremony separate from this but a small token of our appreciation for his dedicated hard work please a round of applause for general Rudd. Okay there's many of the Rudd family that are with us today on VTC that I would be remiss if I didn't recognize so Josh and Anzley's daughters Hayden and Hollis are with us via camera they're online from North Carolina and from Texas additionally Josh's mom Christine is on Josh's brother Jason Josh's in-laws George and Martha Denka so please a round of applause for the family members who couldn't make it but are here to witness this ceremony J.W.'s families here Stephanie, Sophie and Scarlett sorry about that welcome to the three you're welcome to Hawaii it's great to have you on the team and out here we've been waiting a while and we look forward to having you on the team so fellow flag officers community leaders I see the diplomatic corps here with us today for the special operations command service members families civilian warriors guests family and friends thanks for coming to witness this event it's been a while we're in a post COVID world we're all here today boy that's a good thing thank you for participating and it is truly my honor to speak today Josh J.W. thanks for asking me to so after nearly two years of a pandemic a lot of discussion a lot of worry a lot of concern special operations command did not stop there is no pandemic impact to the work that Josh and the company and the team put together to execute integrated deterrence across the region and to deliver sock-backed missions we can say it was uncertain uncertain time and all the concerns with COVID but the message is nothing stopped as a matter of fact as a part of the the initial comments we won't be able to talk about most of the things you do so I will frame it very generally for the team Josh you took the command and you refocused on this Pacific problem and you threw the rudder over based on what was needed to deliver the national defense strategy effects in record time really really impressive so after 20 years of everybody being comfortable with what's going on in the desert you took the helm and you drove the force to execute with what guard what was needed to deliver the secretary and my vision the strategic priorities changed that is no small feat to change and move an organization to deliver what is needed oh by the way it's not just a turn against one of our potential competitors in the form of the PRC nobody ever talks about the other three since the Ukraine invasion we now talk about what Russia means in this we certainly talk about violent extremists and all the work that's getting executed in the southern Philippines Indonesia and other countries that were concerned about foreign fighters terrorism and concern and activities against our allies and partners and then to general the cameras attendance the North Korean problem set so we talk about half the globe we talk about two-thirds of the global economy we talk about the growing concern and where all the people live but let's talk about for the five national security identified threats in that same region Josh the mission has been expansive it's been difficult and you've performed you and your team have performed flawlessly synchronizing interagency DOD partner nations developing and building the counter terrorism information facility JTF IP in Singapore the work in the southern Philippines for a vise and assist the list is long and it is distinguished there's no better partner in the Indo-Pacific than Josh Rudd and I started with talking about this being in the form of bitter sweet so for Josh this is bitter and sweet mostly bitter he's given up command and special operations component on the globe that's what's bitter for me it's sweet sweet because Josh is leaving sock pack and he's becoming the chief of staff in Indo-Pacific command and if you didn't think there was a plan out here to keep the expertise against these adversaries on this island to drive and deliver war fighting outcomes then you're naive so Josh I'm sorry about the bitter I'm also sorry about the sweet but but thanks for staying on the team you will continue to make this team better just have you just so it just as you've done in sock back so thank you very very much for JW no better so no better selection as a replacement for Josh the continued teamwork the focus on this mission executing those mission against those four competitors and delivering combat effects when needed from any domain undersea on the sea above the sea with support of space and cyberspace there's no better team that can deliver those effects now this is also sweet sweet for JW and his family sweet because he just left DC and sweet because he's taken command again of the greatest special operations team on the planet so JW thanks for taking the mission thanks for moving the family out and becoming part of the team we look forward you to take to take every advantage benefit and work that Josh has done and continue to move it forward so again thank you both for taking on the hardest mission that we've seen in decades for putting your all into it to your families and the sock pack team for taking these missions on and performing like none other and thank you very much for everything you do for our nation each and every day service members of sock pack family members of sock pack civilian warriors of sock pack and to Josh and JW individually thank you very much for all you do for the team I appreciate it thanks thank you Admiral Aquilino ladies and gentlemen the commander United States Special Operations Command General Richard Clark hey I'll try to be brief and also not repeat anything that Admiral Aquilino said but first general the camera great to see my old my old Ranger buddy we've replaced each other many times in the past good to see you here from Korea and Admiral Aquilino it means a ton that you and Laura are here that you spoke but for the audience I'm also making sure that I take the opportunity to show how important sock pack is to providing options to Indo pay calm each and every day and the fact they have two four stars up here two-star level change of command to show how important it is and what so com tries to do every single day is to ensure that options are provided and capabilities are provided for this priority this number one priority theater for our country that wins kicking a few things when Josh Rudd came into command two years ago right on this very deck there are about 10 people in the audience and Admiral Davidson and I were both here and as we as we were sitting on this sitting on this stage right behind us steamed a Navy steamed a Navy destroyer but a Navy destroyer was from the Japanese Army and standing on deck in full-dress uniform lights and it wasn't staged it just happened to be part of rim pack they were all staged and they were saluting and as I reflect on that as a leader of the in this military that they would pay homage to the United States as they came into our harbor and that even over 75 years of war had passed that a country that that we defeated but would then come back that we built back up and showed what democracy is it speaks to the partnership and it speaks to the type of partnerships that we enable throughout this great Indo-Pacific region and what Josh Rudd has done in this role of building those partnerships from a first-rate they were and he has traveled he has traveled this region and he has built them and as we held a and in was we held in an international conference at SOCOM last month and Josh brought in over 20 different regional partners to that conference of over 80 that showed up Josh showed those power or partnerships as he built them and at the same time as I told him when he came into command you are our number one special operations command and I will ensure that you were provided the assets to provide at that time to Admiral Davidson and now to adequate Admiral Aquilino each and every day I hope to Admiral Aquilino my friend that we just that we showed that we showed what competition is and Josh led that team and he led it extremely well so Josh thanks to your leadership thanks to what you and Anjali have provided thanks for spending a few at least another year on the island if not more separated from Hayden and Hollis and the rest of your family and to the Williams family welcome we picked the best and we send the best into Indo Paycom and JW just leaving the that five-sided building in the Pentagon working as the as the deputy director for special operations is the right guy to come in here and implement the Indo-Pacific strategy so JW welcome you're gonna you're gonna crush it as a proven combat leader and warrior and Stephanie Scarlett and Sophie thanks for accompanying your dad on yet another military move I'd be remiss if I didn't thank command-master chief Dave Isom who just left Sock Pack and well so the subject Kalski who just came in because it is our non-commissioned officers that these two represent that are the United States' and our joint forces inherent advantage because they are the best that our country has to offer so to all our non-commissioned officers that are here today and to all of Sock Pack thanks to what you do for our great country for special operations command and for the for the Indo-Pacific command thank you very much have a great day thank you general Clark ladies and gentlemen major general Joshua Rudd Admiral and Mrs. Aquilino general and Mrs. Clark who I know Suzanne is watching remotely and would have been here if she could have been to our other distinguished general flag officers in the crowd general the camera thanks for being here general Bramlett I see you hiding back there with Nora thank you for honoring us with your presence and I also want to acknowledge we have a number of Gold Star family members in the crowd as well you honor us with your presence thanks for being here Aloha and welcome a wise man once said in moments like this be brief be brilliant be gone nobody wants to hear what you have to say the best execution of that guidance I've ever witnessed was in the summer of 2018 when then major general Carilla handed off the 82nd Airborne Division to major general Mingus and his remarks were 17 seconds long I'm sorry to say I will not exceed that standard and I hope the fact that we don't have a thousand plus paratroopers standing in the heat at parade rest you'll allow me and indulge me just to say a few words that will probably exceed 17 seconds my first interaction with Special Operations Command Pacific was over a virtual all hands forum where a lot of questions were being asked in the chat room and we had a conversation and a dialogue and one of the questions that was asked to me as the incoming commander was what guides you what what what what kind of shapes the way you lead and command and I responded with what I like to refer to as the four f's and I call my core values it's fitness it's family it's faith and then it's fun and I'll kind of build off that if you allow me while those will not change for me personally I think a modification to reflect on the last two years at sock pack is appropriate and so I'll go with four more f's but one of those is the same the first one is family there's a lot of folks watching from afar on both sides for both the Williams and myself that are family now you have your given families my parents my mom my brother Jason my in-laws George and Martha Denke my daughters Hayden and Hollis and yes JT I know you're out there with them and of course I've got Ansley the rock of this family given family although she's not a given she was a choice and really she chose me I don't know why but I'm eternally grateful and I just want to say thanks the other part of the family equation is your chosen family as we like to say and these aren't your blood relatives these are friends who become family and we have a number of those both here present today and watch them virtually and I just want to say thanks for your support principally to Ansley and the girls that allows me to do what I have done for almost 30 years now and can and to continue to serve and I absolutely recognize no leader can do it without that foundation and the men and women of sock pack can't do it either the second f is friends and in this context I'll talk about some of the allies and partners we can't do what we need to do in this theater to achieve integrated deterrence and to be prepared to fight and win without our friends we have a number of our allies and partners both here present and watching Australia UK Japan South Korea just to name a few and others virtually we are grateful for your friendship for your partnership we know that our decisive advantage in deterrence is about our friendships and the fact that we don't fight alone and the fact that we work every day together and as general Clark highlighted regardless of our history our allies and partners are what give us a decisive advantage in the Indo-Pacific and across the globe the third f is the force this ceremony was deliberately planned to demonstrate joint integrated soft general purpose force between Marfor pack ban a joint side boy formation a joint color guard the Army's hot team and the numerous special operators from sock pack and this ceremony together is indicative of how we fight and win I'm also grateful for the teamwork mentorship coaching guidance assistance and support from my fellow component commanders and our job and our combined forces and partners across the Indo-Pacific the special operations force of the Pacific is a small dispersed persistent formation that operates in all domains in as many places as we can and in all directions to provide dilemmas to provide reassurance to our allies and partners and to provide options to the commander of Indo-Pacific sock pack force you are the professionals who deliver creative options for the joint force and as our nation's most credible partner in competition in crisis and in conflict and finally the fourth f future Admiral Aquilino I am humbled excited and motivated to stay in this part of the world focused on this part of the on the on the nation's most challenging problem set in the most consequential theater in the world truly humbled and yes bitter bitter finally the future the future of sock pack J. W. Stephanie Sophia Scarlett team Williams you are part of the force you are longtime friends and you are chosen family and now you're the future of sock pack I've had the great fortune to serve alongside J. W. and by extension our families have become family and I can tell you we've shared a lot of unique experiences together we've always had each other's back we red teamed each other's missions and in some cases I shirked a bunch of work off to him and gave him half of my battle space all that to say there is no better joint combat leader to take the helm to carry the guide on of special operations command Pacific Sir Admiral Aquilino general Clark transitions complete the colors of sock pack are in the most capable hands now he will accelerate he will think and act and operate differently and we will through his leadership achieve our objectives of the campaign finally to the guardians of the Pacific the men and women of special operations command Pacific I leave you two parting thoughts keep doing what you're doing but do it better and do it faster every day and then finally honor our history and continue the met continue the legacy Mahalo thank you major general red ladies and gentlemen the commander special operations command Pacific Rear Admiral Jeremy Williams hello I like the 17 seconds but I feel there's a little bit of respect so I'll be brief Admiral Aquilino Miss Aquilino general a camera general Clark other flag and general officers distinguished guests family and friends thank you for being here today definitely honored by your presence especially for those who trekked a long way keeping the main thing the main thing right up front the Ohana to my wife Stephanie my daughters Sophia and Scarlett thank you for deciding to come along for another adventure you are the reason that keeps me in the fight you are my center of gravity I love you no one cares more about the families than Ansley Rudd no one cares more about the mission and the troops the general Rudd we are absolutely honored and fortunate that our very very dear friends we're able to do transition with they have absolutely taken care of us in this process we are awed by your leadership by what you've done here by the welcoming that we've had coming on board and I realize that's not a sole source effort so for your swim buddy my buds classmate Fleet Master Chief Isam and and all the things that you and your family have done here thank you for welcoming us and CSM Walt Zekowski Angel and Isabelle into the into the family and into the formation Admiral Aquilino general Clark thank you I appreciate the vote of confidence I appreciate the opportunity to lead again general the camera I spent more time downrange in combat zone with you than any other flag or general officer thank you for the investment CSM and I understand the gravity of this mission we understand the honor and the trust that you've placed in us we understand the strategic risk that comes along with this and we will not let you down to all the dear friends that are here and across the miles it couldn't be with us here today especially family to include our American and international partners specifically in the audience Mark and Ann Schaefer Tony and Sue Manganella Tony Turner Russ and Julie angled Joe Ryan it's been a minute Jennifer short and countless others I see Jeff Campbell snuck in back there we are so grateful for you helping us along the way to get us here to the men and women of special operations command Pacific absolutely honored to be your teammate with CSM Zekowski and to lead this formation after the time and investment you put into me the last several weeks and the last several months of VTCs for on-boarding team Williams it's absolutely motivating and inspiring to see the level of the command again I can only attribute that to your to your leadership and your dedication to the mission so we will continue that eternal optimism tempered enthusiasm with balance finally my ohana is absolutely privileged and honored to be a guest of these islands so to the people of the land we will be good stewards and we'll be protectors in our time here it's a close I wanted to search for a strong Hawaiian warrior saying I don't think I can outdo the 25th and think I probably need to earn that so maybe boss in terms of what the special operations command center of gravity is is diversity so from Sean Bergen eyes time out at soccer working for Admiral Sturridus and Admiral McCraven maybe an African proverb more appropriate if you want to go fast go alone if you want to go far go together we'll go together Mahalo thank you rear Admiral Williams ladies and gentlemen please stand for the departure of the official party no Pacific command departing special operations command departing Major General United States Army departing special operations command Pacific departing ladies and gentlemen on behalf of Admiral Aquilino and General Clark I extend their sincere appreciation for your attendance thank you very much for your participation this concludes today's ceremony