 I'm Captain George Lang, Deputy and Chief of Staff to the President of the Naval War College. Welcome to this morning's change of command ceremony, where Rear Admiral Walter E. Carter Jr. will be relieved as the President of the Naval War College by Rear Admiral Gardner Howe. Our guest speaker today is Chief of Naval Operations, Admiral Jonathan Greenert. The official party will arrive in just a few moments. At this time, I'd kindly ask that everyone turn off and silence your cell phones and other communication devices. For those here who might be unfamiliar with the traditional change of command ceremony, I'd like to explain some of the background for today's event. Fundamental guidance for the change of command, aside from long-established customs and traditions, resides in U.S. Navy regulations. The 1865 edition of regulations for the government of the United States, Navy, Article III, Section 1, No. 72 states. When the officer is appointed to the command of a single vessel, he will make, in company with the commanding officer, a thorough personal examination of her, and inform himself as to all her arrangements and preparations of equipment, after which the transfer is to be formally made in the presence of as many of her officers and crew as can be assembled, before whom his appointment is to be read. Today's event will follow the accepted traditions and customs of a Navy change of command ceremony. Specifically, at the appointed hour, the outgoing Naval War College President, Rear Admiral Carter, and his relief, Rear Admiral Howe, along with our guest speaker, the Chief of Naval Operations, Admiral Greener, will proceed to the stage together. The ceremony routine will include a traditional sideboy honors, color guard, the singing of the national anthem, and an invocation and benediction. After a few brief remarks, the outgoing officer, Rear Admiral Carter, will read his orders of detachment. He will then turn to his relief and report, I am ready to be relieved. The relieving officer, Rear Admiral Howe, will step forward and read his orders to command, after which he will salute Rear Admiral Carter and report, I relieve you, sir. They will both then report their relief to the Chief of Naval Operations. The new Naval War College President, Rear Admiral Howe, will then give his remarks. I will then ask everyone to stand for the benediction and departure of the official party, which will conclude the ceremony. Today's ceremony will be uncovered for everyone in military uniform, except those in the official party. Ladies and gentlemen, please rise for the arrival of the official party, the parading of colors, the singing of our national anthem, and the invocation. Staff, attend. Bozen, post the side boys. Rear Admiral, United States Navy, arriving. How many times do we rehearse it? Rear Admiral, United States Navy, arriving. President, Naval War College, arriving. Chief of Naval Operations, arriving. Retire the side boys. Color guard, parade the colors. Freezing arms. Oh, say can. What's so proud? Broad stripes and bra. United States Navy. Let us pray. From Psalm 90, Lord, you have been our dwelling place throughout all generations. Before the mountains were born, or you brought forth the earth and the world, from everlasting to everlasting, you are God. Sovereign Lord in heaven, we ask for your presence and blessing this day, as command of United States Naval War College is passed from Admiral Carter to Admiral Howe. Thank you for Admiral Carter's faithful service at the Naval War College over this past year. His love for the Navy, this institution, and its people, our nation and our international friends. Thank you for all who have supported him with hard work and professionalism, making the War College a place where the mind is challenged by academic rigor and the heart is enriched by new friendships. And as Admiral Howe takes the helm, we ask you to bless him with wisdom, vision, and passion to provide great leadership to this institution. May he and his family feel a warm welcome to Newport. Now, we ask for your blessing upon Admiral Carter and Linda. May they take many fond memories with them as they look ahead to new challenges and adventures through the one who saves. Amen. Please be seated. Ladies and gentlemen, the 54th president of the United States Naval War College, Rear Walter E. Carter, Jr. All right, good morning. I see we still have some folks taking their seats, and that's great. I see a lot of familiar faces here, so I'm going to let everybody get to their seats, and I'm going to just say a couple of things. First of all, it's a great morning to be here in Newport, Rhode Island. This is a very special day for Linda and I, as we have been here really a relatively short time one year. It does truly seem like yesterday on July 2 that I was standing here taking the reins. I want to give a special welcome to all of our faculty and staff, our Naval War College Foundation members, a lot of fellow flag officers here today, our friends, family, and especially our presiding officer here who is with us today, the Chief of Naval Operations, Admiral Jonathan Greenert. Now today, you're going to witness a Navy change of command, a traditional Navy change of command. This time-honored ceremony accomplishes a number of tasks. First, it officially and publicly transfers authority from one leader to another. It provides the opportunity for the outgoing president, that's me, to reflect on the past, and for the incoming president, that's Admiral Howe, to begin to describe his vision for the future. It offers a chance for the departing president to thank all those who have contributed to this successful year, and also allows us to host and welcome our guest of honor and Chief of Naval Operations Admiral Greenert, who I will introduce here shortly. Now there are quite a few senior officials, flag officers, and general officers with us here this morning. I'd like to take just a couple minutes to acknowledge their attendance. First and foremost, Congressman David Cicillini, Rhode Island's first congressional district. You've been terrific to us, our whole tour here. We even sit next to each other on airplane rides right back from Washington, D.C. It truly is a small state. Our former Navy Secretary, Ambassador J. William Mittendorf II. Now I have to just say a couple words about Ambassador Mittendorf. He is truly the Renaissance man. If you didn't know, he's a noted composer and musician himself. This morning here, if you didn't know, the Navy Band Northeast actually played the Naval War College march, which he wrote. He also wrote more than 100 marches and symphonies during his very impressive musical careers. A businessman, diplomat, artist, composer, and author. Clearly, as I said, a Renaissance man in just this year, I had the honor of introducing him as he was inducted into the Rhode Island Heritage Hall of Fame. Ambassador, it's great to have you here with us this morning. Mr. Anthony Paolino, representing Senator Whitehouse. Mayor Harry Winthrop, mayor of Newport. Admiral Guillermo Barrera, the former chief of the Colombian Navy and our international distinguished fellow here at the War College. Vice Admiral Thomas Weshler, United States Navy, retired. A Rhode Island luminary and icon. And I know I can say that with all truth. He has been the driving force behind the construction of the biggest tall ship built in America in over a century. The SSV Oliver Hazard Perry, which will be coming to the shores of Newport and Narragansett Bay very soon. Admiral, it's great to have you here with us this morning. Vice Admiral James Phil Wisecup, United States Navy, retired. The 52nd president of the Naval War College. And now the director of the Chief of Naval Operations Strategic Studies Group. Major General Steve Seider, chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Naval War College Foundation. And there are quite a few key members here from the foundation. I'd just like to mention a couple of them. David Gordon, former mayor of Newport. John Odegaard, Happy Van Buren, Philip Bilden. And I also see Richard out there with us. Great to have you. All the foundation members, thank you all for being with us. Major General Kevin McBride, United States Army, Adjutant General Rhode Island National Guard. He's been kind of my counterpart to this Navy flag officer community and the Army National Guard here. And we've shared a lot of dioceses together over the year. So Kevin, it's great to have you here with us today. Rare Admiral Sandy Stoats, the superintendent of the United States Coast Guard Academy. And for those of you who are not aware, she is the first woman to ever command a service academy. Sandy, my capstone classmate, great to have you here in the audience with us today. Rare Admiral Glenn Whistler, United States Navy, retired. Rare Admiral Dave Gove, United States Navy, retired. Rare Admiral Dennis McCoy, United States Navy, retired. Rare Admiral Timothy Gallaudet, United States Navy Commander, Navy Meteorological and Oceanography Command. Brigadier General Charlie Petraca, he's the land component commander here for the Rhode Island National Guard. And quite a few Navy captains here in the audience with us today. All who command different outfits here on the base. And unfortunately, most all of them don't work for me. Captain Jim Cunha, who runs the Naval Academy Prep School, Mark Johnson, who runs the Naval Leadership and Ethics Center, Kevin McGowan, Doug McIterian, the base commanding officer here, Mark Murphy, Maureen Pennington, and David Welch. Welcome to all of the captains. And I think I see Captain Doherty here, the new future commanding officer of the Naval Academy Prep School. And finally, but not least, our command master chief, Jason Wallace, who leads as the director of the senior listed academy. And of course, no introduction would be complete if I didn't give a special welcome to Aaron, Admiral Howe's wife, who just came in two days from Hawaii. And of course, my wife, Linda, of 32 years this July 31. Welcome to our friends, family, and each and every one of you. Ladies and gentlemen, it is my distinct pleasure to introduce our guest speaker. Admiral Jonathan Greenert is a native of Butler, Pennsylvania. And that's a small town just outside of Pittsburgh. And for all of my Rhode Island hockey loving fans, I will tell you that it's not well known that he is a huge ice hockey fan. Now, he does like the black and gold, but it doesn't happen to be of the Boston Bruins. He's kind of favors the Pittsburgh Penguins. He went to the Naval Academy, graduated in 1975. And after that, he went through the Navy Nuclear Power School, where he has made a career serving as a nuclear power submarine officer. He has served extensively on a number of submarines with great names, like Flying Fish, Tautog, submarine NR-1. He was the executive officer of USS Michigan Gold Crew. And he commanded the USS Honolulu SSN 718 from 1991 to 1993. In 1992, he was awarded the Vice Admiral James Bond Stockdale Leadership Award, a peer-based nomination award, arguably the highest award in leadership in the United States Navy. He's gone on to command many levels since then. He was the deputy commander of US Pacific Fleet. He went on to command the US Seventh Fleet, based in Yakusuka, Japan, on board his flagship, the USS Blue Ridge. And then he came back to the United States, where he was in charge of the entire eastern coast Atlantic Fleet as Commander Fleet Forces Command. His previous job before the one he has now was the 36th Vice Chief of Naval Operations. And on September 23, 2011, he took the reins as our 30th Chief of Naval Operations. Ladies and gentlemen, please give a warm welcome to our CNO, Admiral Jonathan Green. You know, one of the ways you've overextended your welcome at different locations is if the person introduced you, it doesn't even have to read your bio. They say, him again? Well, here he is, and you just read it right off. So that's one thing. The other thing I'd want to remind you, or just give you the hint of what we put in our hats off and on today. You'll see this, because it's off now. And we're testing out how long it takes to get a ring on your forehead, because I swear to you in uniform, Marine Corps and Navy, we're working on a new hat. And you say, oh man, trust me, this is going to be a winner, no ring, all right? And you can test it. So take that one to the bank, as they say. So Ted, yeah, you're right. It's my golly. It's been just precisely a year. And I'm sorry, Linda, about another short notice move. You're going to the big house, and I really do mean this. It is a big house. It's the biggest house. And you're going to rue the day that you probably moved into that house one day, because it's so big and hard to take care of. But I could ask one more time. I'm always astounded when we have the Rhode Island chapter of the Ted Carter Slapshot Carter Fan Club. But all you people from Rhode Island came here to see Carter raise your hand. Look at that. Isn't that unbelievable? So Christopher and Brittany aren't here, because they're making a living somewhere. And that's good, paying back maybe. Uncle Don Elizabeth, the Carter element, Uncle Ken and Madeleine, the Putnam element, and Sylvia Scanlon's here. And his brother, Phil, is here with Debbie. And if you say, my god, that looks like Ted Carter with a mustache, you say, well, Brittany here is, as those two are not. That apple didn't fall too far from the tree, as they say. So I would like to give kudos to Carl Gerhardt. Carl was with me at Seven Flea. He's the band director here. So if you enjoyed the music, he is the maestro. Carl, thanks so much. Congressman Sicilini, thank you very much for what you do. This institution, it's very comforting, knowing that we have such congressional support here, both you and the senators here. We appreciate it very much. And it's not taken lightly. This is a very well-supported institution by you all on the Hill, and I appreciate that. Thank you for that. And I would be remiss if I didn't say to Mayor Winthrop, that is the coolest mustache since Raleigh Fingers, that you have going on. Thank you for what you do here, supporting the town, supporting it, because these students come in. They haven't been here. We come. We go out, and our kids play soccer, baseball, and all that, and the community embraces them and takes good care of them. It really does feel like a community with the citizens here at Newport. Thank you very much for that. Ambassador Mindor, I threw past my admiration. I read your bio, what you do, I got to take a nap afterward. I'm exhausted just thinking about what you do, and I'm stunned. Ambassador Peters, thank you for what you have done, and we will miss you very much here, as you've taken care of the students here, as well as the curricula. And I always, always have to pay my respects and to give my admiration to Anna Maria and Hilarimo Barrera, to a hero and heroine of mine and people that I admire. Thank you so much for contributing up here and continuing to serve to doing up here. Fellow flags, Ted covered all of you. I'm not going through that again. I want to, my message is simple. For me, this institution is the capital of our intellect. It is our intellectual capital, and that's a proper none. And what we're going to do, and how we'll continue to do, is to continue to, if you will, make it so, because we develop, common noun, our intellectual capital up here. We send our kids to NROTC, our officers, I'm talking about in the Naval Academy. That's kind of the boot camp, if you will, as I was talking up here about a month ago. That's the boot camp for understanding what we do in the Navy. And it's an important element, and that's why the carters are going down there, to see that we get that institution right. Some go to the post graduate school. That's kind of like C school. You go into a specialty. Cyber, ASW, acoustics, financial management. Okay, that's good. All very, very important. And you kind of become little jet eyes in your own field there over at the post graduate school. But this is where it all comes together. This is where we form and shape our leaders to make them be what they have to be, in these very, very challenging times ahead. And it's so important to me that our officers come up here at that mid grade level and that junior senior officer, if you will, level, and leave here confident that they can go out, and they understand the big picture, because they're gonna go out and make very strategic decisions. In the East China Sea, in the South China Sea, and the Strait of Hormuz, in the Black Sea now. I mean, it just keeps going on. And the Caribbean, and it's gonna be a strategic decision, and they gotta understand the big picture. I need leaders that are confident, so they can go out and be bold and accountable to all of you citizens for the things that we need to do in your Navy in the future. So I'm very happy to be here, and I'm very happy to continue to support this. And I swear to you, I come up here in February and March. I just don't hang up here, hang out in the summer when it's nice. Check it out, I'm up here. Phil Wisecup? All right, thank you, he'll commit for me. All right, look, we need a committed leader at the helm up here to carry this out and get it done. And I'd like to spend a few minutes talking about a very, very special person. For a year, this person has been very passionate in the dedication of the institution. A very extraordinary leader, engaged everywhere at the War College, and will be truly, truly sorely missed. This is someone who we really strive to follow and are very proud to know, and you all know who I'm talking about. I'm talking about Linda Carter. It's been a relatively short period, but she has touched and enriched many, many lives up here. She's been a very active participant and a great advisor. The military spouses of Newport organization is kinda like her thing, one of the things that she brought from the efforts to include everybody, all the services, officer enlisted, and used to be the Naval Officer's Spouse Club, but now it is the military spouses of Newport organization. It's inclusive like it needs to be. As people come up here, they get anxious. They're away from their norm, if you will. It's a relatively short period. The service members up here studying, it is a lot of studying, right? And you're supposed to do the reading, and I assume you do. And all of that goes on. She has nurtured and included also, it's pretty key and important, the international spouses. And I can't tell you how many times I've done a lot of traveling recently. I've rebalanced to the Asia Pacific on my travel schedule. And I go in and sit down with the head of Navy or one of the senior officers, and they proudly wear that little badge from this institution, and they very proudly wear it. And boy, they see it around each other if you go to a Naval Symposium or any Symposium, and they connect. It's like a little magnet or a little beeper that brings them together. So what Linda has done is reduced that cultural shock and brought them in. She's created a shock with this Red Sox thing and this Bruins thing and this Patriots thing, but okay, you can't get everything because they talk about these things overseas. Linda has done a tremendous amount, and I thank you very much. Thank you, Linda, for what you do. Now, she does all that and she raised a rear admiral at the same time. He's a career Naval Flight Officer. That's the person in the backseat that directs the mission, kind of does the sensors and the weapons and says, okay, here's where we're going next. And he's been doing this for a while. He's a decorated guy, but he's always needed a pilot and he's got a great pilot for 32 years. So we know we got that one right. So anyway, Linda does have a spouse and let me say a few words about Linda's spouse. Ted Carter was the right leader at the right place at the right time. I'm very, very happy with this detail, with this job that he has done here. He has refined the curriculum and moved it in a direction as he says, and you ought to read his blog. He went on, he put an entry in the Navy blog today. It's very well written and I think it kind of summarizes better than I will speak to what he has done here. But he has refocused the school toward the fleet, brought that together, you know, that connection of intellectual capital, as I mentioned, and fleet operations. And I think there are three key elements that he has gotten going, and I know Gardner will take it from here. One, the Navy leadership development continuum. And you say, well, what is that? That sounds like, what does that all mean? That means developing a curriculum that all of our people, E1 to E9, 01 to 010, as they go through their career, they will have a foundation of character and leadership development and understanding what is expected of them. At the level when they go through the career, that we expect of them in that level during their career. That there's a foundation across that and we are well begun and not quite half done on that one, but he has gotten that rolling on. He's established the Navy leadership and ethics center. It was a product of a vision that he brought to me and said, I'm gonna stand this up up here. I need a little bit of money and it wasn't much money and we have it started up. And it's the right thing to do. The Secretary of Defense's assistant for professional development, Rebel Peg Klein came up here and looked at it and she said, that's what the secretary kind of had in mind. I mean, when he said, where can we bring an institution? It's very much like the other services and what Ted has done as brought that synergy of drawing on the other service, not saying we got it right up here or go into our little hovel up here or even in the Navy. But he's also shared that and it is up and running. It's about providing a place of good barrels that we put the apples in so that we have good apples in those barrels. If you got a bad barrel, you put the apples in. You get that picture when I'm talking about. Lastly, that I will mention, he's examined the future of Wardsea. You say, well, what's that mean? Well, if you go around the Pentagon for sure today and you say, Navy Wardsea, Naval Wardsea, what are you gonna see a picture of? You're probably gonna see a picture of an aircraft carrier, probably a nice formation of, maybe if it's a joint operation, you'll see a B-2 or a B-1. You'll see F-15s from the Air Force. You probably see F-22s maybe, but you get my point. You see that kind of, well, that's Wardsea. And you say, we're moving along here. This world of ours is rapidly accelerating and changing here. We've got a lot of stuff ashore and the literals and developing and we got unmanned, we got cyber, we got unmanned underwater, unmanned aerial and as we move into the future, what will it look like? Ted's given us a lot of thought. We want our folks to come up here and think about Wardsea at 2025, 2030 and then go back to the fleet and bring the fleet toward that area. What I don't need is people coming up here and learning only history of what the as is and then they go to the fleet and the fleet's bringing them along. We've got to bring this along together. We have to think, what is it gonna be like ahead and start developing those concepts in this intellectual capital of what we're gonna do. And that's what Admiral Carter has gotten us lined up for and I appreciate it very much. This week, we're gonna have a mock-up of the rail gun in San Diego on the Chock-Call County. I don't know if I brought a while back, I had the pictures and all that and it was only a cartoon. Well, it's the real deal, people will touch it. It is the rail gun that we will take to sea in 2016 and test. Pretty much as we speak, I can't say for certain what they're doing out there but the laser warfare system, the laser gun, if you will, that we're gonna put on the former USS Ponce, it's the US Naval Ship Ponce, are experimental, if you will, a float forward staging base is being installed in the Arabian Gulf and she will deploy with that for some time out there. So we're moving out ahead. I could give you more, I'll leave that for another time. We are moving ahead, he's seen this vision and he wants to bring the kids along. So Ted, thanks so much for setting the stage for a future analysis, for future planning, for future development. We'll deep dive into the future of Ward C, Gardner will take it from here and we got it from there. For you, I wanna thank you for what you've done up here and we never ever, in fact, we spend, I swear to you, as much time figuring out who should the next superintendent of the Naval Academy be, almost as much as we see who is my relief, probably more, trust me. And it is a incredibly important development or position for a couple of reasons. One, obviously it's our seed corn, all right? And we need to develop them both academically and professionally. But that's our, that's one of our institutions of the future, just like this is, it's one of our crown jewels and that superintendent's gotta take care of all the grounds, take care of the foundation, take care of the alumni, good heavens, you're getting a headache already, aren't you? Get this man in, et cetera. And he's, but he's, this is the couple to do it. And I'm very, very glad that you all have chosen this, this challenge. For Aaron and Gardner, thank you very much for what you've done, but it's what you've done is told us that you're really ready to take it from here and bring this institution forward. So I'm glad to have you here. This is a proven leader, a special warfare professional, commanded at the special warfare unit three at group three and just left the special operations command in the Pacific, where there's a lot going on out there that we're all taken by what's happened in the mid-east because that's a now, now, now. So a ton of development going out in a very, very important theater. Welcome aboard. If you see a black lab running around here, that's Cato, very, very friendly. I don't know, probably likes two sticks, right? That's what I, yeah, all right. So again, Ted, thank you so much for taking care of the institution and for loving your Navy so much. Linda, thank you for loving him because when you love him, he loves the Navy and then you both love the Navy. It's all good. Thank you very much. Ladies and gentlemen, once again, the President of the United States named the War College, Graham McCarter. Admiral Greener, thank you. Your words were way too kind and Linda and I could not have been happier to have a short time up here and for the betterment of everyone here, the CNO really did come up here. This was the seventh trip you've made during my tenure here, so I began to wonder if I was doing okay up here because it came up here a lot. But I do wanna thank you first and foremost for having the trust and confidence, not only me, but my family and Linda, to come here a year ago to lead the Naval War College. It truly has been an amazing year for Linda and myself. As I stood here almost exactly one year ago, I said this was the most proud I had been in my entire Navy career so I became the Naval War College's 54th President. Today, I feel just as proud, albeit a little bittersweet. Not only for me as a Naval officer, but really for me as a Rhode Islander. This is the first time I had ever been back in my home state since I left the Naval Academy in 1981 and it did go by a little bit too fast. Today, I do relinquish the most significant assignment of my career. This past weekend, I came back over here into the hallways, there was nobody here, and I just wanted to walk through and soak in the flavor of the War College. I reflected on the Naval giants who have come before me. Their portraits are gracing all over the campus here, Admiral Ray Spruance in the auditorium here, up on the second deck, the wall of presidents, names such as Alfred Day or Mahan, Raymond Spruance, James Bond Stockdale, Stansfield Turner and Art Sebrowski and 49 other presidents of the Naval War College that came before me. Such history, such passion and such success in shaping the Navy's future. This year, we celebrate 130 years of scholarship, leadership and friendship. It's a truly marvelous legacy. To my good friend Gardner Howe, I transfer what has been described as the busiest and most prestigious education and research complex in the United States Navy. A few years ago, and I think Vice Admiral Phil Wisecup started this, the War College came to be known by this moniker saying it was the Navy's home of thought. I have to admit, I was a bit reluctant when I came here to embrace such a broad bumper sticker. I mean, after all, we're the only place that really has thought. But as many here in the United States and as the CNO mentioned here just a few seconds ago, a lot of people in Washington DC have asked recently, where will our future strategists emerge? And I would submit to you and I think the CNO agrees, they're right here. There are faculty. There are students. They are our researchers. And Gardner, as I think about what I've seen here this past year, not just because of my time but what the faculty has developed here, I'd like to think that I'm turning over to you what I believe is the Navy's home of strategic thought. At this year's current strategy forum, Admiral Greenert said the Naval War College was the intellectual capital of the Navy where fleet experience meets academic theory. He also stated we must have a Navy where it matters and when it matters. Concerning strategy, he said we need a strategy that suits the evolving conditions in a complex world. We need to reinvigorate the strategic mindset. We must focus, nurture, and align to the future. Think about those words, those actions to focus, to nurture, and to align. It is clear and concise guidance for our War College today and tomorrow. Now a year ago, and a lot of you were here, you may remember I used words protect, respect, and promote. And I was referring to our faculty, our staff, our academic programs, as well as our historical legacy, all with an eye to being more relevant to the joint warfighter and fleet as we educate leaders and plan for the future. Our educational programs both in residence and around the globe are more rigorous and respected than ever before. Today, thanks to our distance education program, 145,000 participants are signed online with our distance education professional military programs alone. Our research programs analyze real world problems from cybersecurity to regional and cultural complexities to evolving technological capabilities to irregular warfare. If it's important to the Navy, it's on the agenda right here at the Naval War College. Now we are addressing at the theoretical and practical level the ethical and leadership challenges that form the bedrock of the profession of arms. Our new Naval Leadership and Ethics Center as the CNO mentioned, the expansion of the Senior Enlisted Academy or SEA and the Practitioner Focus College of Operational and Strategic Leadership are all leading the way ahead. And although we've enjoyed a great year with much accomplished, we must never rest on our laurels. There's much yet to be done. I'm giving you some things to do, Gardner. We have to keep this institution at the top of its game and always be responsive to the needs of the fleet and our combatant commanders. And now I'd just like to take a couple minutes to say a few thank yous. First of the Chief of Naval Operations for believing in this great institution and challenging us to help shape our Navy's future. To the Navy War College faculty and staff, everyone knows a leader is only as good as one's crew and I have been blessed by a team of true professionals unlike any I've ever served with in the past. You accomplish the mission regardless of whatever little speed bumps we put in your way. You care about your students, your colleagues and most importantly, this institution. And in a greater sense, you care about your Navy, your nation and the ideals for which this country was founded. I wanna thank our Provost, Ambassador Mary Ann Peters, our Associate Provost, Bill Spain, our Deans, John Garifano, Dean Tom Mangold, Dean Jamie Kelly, Dean Professor Emeritus. I don't think he's with us here today. Barney Rubel who'll be leaving us later in the year, Captain Griffin and our Director of Distance Education, Dr. Jay Hickey. For my personal staff, George Lang, my chief of staff who's officiating today with us today, my flag secretary, Lieutenant Commander Jay Brewer, the blessed flag assistant in the United States Navy, Lieutenant Commander Leslie Slutemaker, our Senior Listed Advisor, Senior Chief Pearson and our Senior Culinary Specialist, Senior Chief Valdez and my flag writers, Wine One Michelle Soares, Wine One Kat Kurtz and Wine Two Laws who does a lot of administrative support for us. I would be remiss if I didn't also mention the best protocol team I have ever seen in my 33 years in the United States Navy, Karen Sellers and Kelly Williamson. Thank you for all that you do. And finally, my jack of all writing trades, Professor John Jackson who only picks the best words for me to say on many, many occasions. I'd like to say thank you to all the captains and commanders here in the base. This is a complex base here, the synergy that is amongst all these training and education outfits is phenomenal. And I'd like to say thank you to all the family and friends. Now, the C&O asked all the carters and others to kind of raise their hand. I've been very fortunate that I've had such a loyal family. The carters who are represented by the senior members of my dad's side, Uncle Don and Elizabeth, thank you for being here. There's about 215 carters that are still living in Borival that go down many generations. There are six of my father's brothers and sisters still with us. Uncle Don, thanks for representing all of them. On the Putnam side, my cousin Ken and Elizabeth, my aunt Delma is married to Uncle Ken who is the eldest statements now along with Aunt Martha. I think Uncle Ken is about 98 now or about to be 98. So, still kicking it, unbelievable. Thank you for all being here. The many cousins here, I won't say my favorite cousin, but the one I seem to see the most, Sandy, thank you for making such an effort to be here with us today. On my mother's side, my aunt Sylvia, the last remaining relative of the Scanlands on that side who came down from Cape Cod with her son and my cousin Jimmy, so thank you for all making it down. And of course, nothing would be complete if I didn't mention my Borival High School classmates. There's a contingent here from the class of 1977 and some 1976ers here. They have been coming to events for me dating back prior to 1997. It doesn't matter where it is, it doesn't matter what the temperatures are outside the winter, the summer, they continue to come and support. I would just ask that my Borival High School classmates all went to Borival High School. If I could ask them just to stand for a minute so I could recognize you in front of everyone here. And you'll see why I didn't name them all. This would take an extra five minutes. I do wanna make a quick mention of the state of Rhode Island. Since I've come here, I've had a wonderful working relationship with Senator Jack Reed, Senator Sheldon Whitehouse, Congressman Langevin and Congressman Cicillini as well as the governor, Lincoln Shafee. That doesn't just happen, it shows the respect they have for not only the base here in Newport for their love of what happens here at the Naval War College. So I wanna say thank you to our Rhode Island delegation. I also wanna say thank you to our Naval War College Foundation. I have to admit when I came here, I didn't understand all of what exactly they do. And now that I've been here a year, I can tell you that I've used them in a term calling them the X factor, that being something that you can't really feel or touch but you know without it, you won't be nearly as successful or successful at all if you don't have it. And that truly is the Naval War College Foundation. They make what we do here better and in many cases we couldn't accomplish many parts of our mission without them. So I say thank you to Steve Sider, John Otegaard and all the rest of the trustees who are here with us today. Finally, I'd like to thank my immediate family. My son and daughter, Christopher and Brittany as the CNO said, they're out making a dollar today. They'll be with us down in Annapolis. But I am thinking of them today. I'm very proud of what they have done for themselves and our family and for our nation. My brother, Phillip, here with us today was his wife, Debbie. I'm always thrilled to have my brother here. My sister, Allison, is up in Maine today, couldn't make it with us. But Phillip, a serving Marine from Desert Storm, very proud of him and glad to see him here in the audience. And finally I'd like to mention Linda. Now as the CNO said, we're going back to Annapolis, Maryland. And last year I told a story about how Linda and I when we were dating, we came here to Newport and that made it sound like this is really where it all started. Well, there's a little bit more to that story. On January 21st, 1979, as a sophomore or we call a youngster at the Naval Academy, I was enjoying my second year in the Naval Academy ice hockey team, enjoying what I would clearly call a sophomore slump. I don't think I had scored a goal in any game that entire year. And at a place that is now known as Disco Dahlgren, the old Dahlgren Hall that we used to play disco in the 1970s, I was introduced by a fellow hockey teammate, Scotty Stewart, to a young lady named Linda Colhub. And as luck would have it, we hit it off and I said, well, we're in Disco Dahlgren, we should go dance. Now, a smarter move would have been to listen to what was playing first. Because forever more, our first dance will be remembered as La Freak. And that was the first thing we did together. And on January 21st, 1979. And we're very fortunate to be able to go back to where we all started. Linda's from Catonsville, Maryland, just outside of Baltimore. So as I've enjoyed some time here in my home state, we're going back to Linda's home state and where we actually started our relationship. And oh, by the way, Linda went to every home hockey game for two and a half years and never not once did I not score two goals in a game Linda attended. I was always trying to impress her. I'd like to close now, for the first time in the 130 year history of the Naval War College, this institution will be led by a member of the Naval Special Warfare community, better known as the SEALs. Their motto is, quote, ready to lead, ready to follow, never quit. The only easy day was yesterday, unquote. Gardner, I am sure you're ready to lead. And the last 12 months have shown me that every member of this remarkable command is ready to follow. And they will never quit. Now, I will admit that if you force them on a 10 mile run, they may not move as fast as you would like, but I can assure you that you will never find a more loyal team committed to accomplishing the mission. So today, as we finish this ceremony, I ask that we not forget our soldier sailors, airmen, Marines, coast guardsmen, national guardsmen who are serving all over the front lines of the world. And let's also remember our Japanese friends and our servicemen who are serving in Japan as they are going through a pretty tough day with a 125 mile an hour typhoon that's bearing down on them. And let's not forget all those who protect the very freedoms that we enjoy here today. May God bless each and every one of you, the United States Naval War College, the great state of Rhode Island, and Providence Plantations, and the United States of America. Thank you all very, very much. I'll now read my orders. Ladies and gentlemen, please remain standing. Military guests, attention to orders. C and O order, 1-814. To Vice Admiral Select, by the way, in the United States Navy, that's still a rear admiral. Walter E. Carter, Jr., when directed by a reporting senior detached in July 2014 from duty as President Naval War College, report not later than July 2014 for duty in Annapolis, Maryland as Superintendent United States Naval Academy. Chief of Staff, hold down my flag. Aye, sir. Seeing as chief, hold down rear McCarter's flag. Admiral, your flag has been hauled down. Admiral Howe, I'm ready to be relieved. I will now read my orders. C and O order, 1-404. To rear Admiral P. Gardner Howe, the third, when directed by a reporting senior detached in July 2014 from duty as Commander Special Operations Command Pacific, report not later than July 2014 for duty as President Naval War College. Assume duties and responsibilities as the 55th President. Chief of Staff, break my flag. Aye, sir. Seeing as chief, break Admiral Howe's flag. Aye, senior. Admiral Howe, your flag has been broken, sir. Very well. Ladies and gentlemen, please be seated. It is my pleasure to introduce the 55th President of the United States Naval War College, rear Admiral P. Gardner Howe, the third. Seeing no distinguished guests, faculty, staff, family, and friends, good morning, and thank you all for joining us here today. I am incredibly humbled, honored, and excited to be standing in front of you as the 55th President of the Naval War College. And I intend to begin my term by upholding one of the most longstanding naval traditions. And that is the incoming Commander at a change of command ceremony, circled here to the two B's. I will be brief and then be seated. That said, please indulge me as I do make a couple of remarks, make a couple of acknowledgments that I feel fitting for this occasion. So you know, I am explicitly aware of the trust and confidence you've placed in me with this incredible opportunity. I will do my utmost to uphold the proud heritage of the Naval War College and to continue the process that's been ongoing for 130 years to develop our leaders, to develop the next generation of Navy leaders who are able to deal with the increasing chaos and complexity that the world presents every day. As Admiral Carter mentioned, you put out a call several weeks ago from this very podium for us to reinvigorate the Navy's strategic mindset. And you asked us to focus, to nurture, and to align for the future. Copy all C&O, and I will work with the terrific team here at the Naval War College to ensure we're moving in that direction. Admiral Carter, thank you for your stalwart leadership over the last year here at the college, the Navy's home of strategic thought. A son of Rhode Island and clearly a rising star in the Navy, you have advanced this institution with intellectual initiative and relevance. And as you promised last year, you have respected, protected, and promoted the institution. Both you and Linda have been outstanding ambassadors for the state, for the Navy, and for the college. And Erin and I wish you the very best in Annapolis. To the incredibly talented faculty and the extremely capable staff, I see one of my primary tasks to simply maintain the significant momentum that you've built up under Admiral Carter's leadership here. And I fully expect that you will see a whole lot more continuity than you will see change during our transition. Look forward to working with you all to develop those strategically minded, critical thinking leaders, leaders who are able to resist the disorientation of present shock and not only operate effectively in the uncertain, the complex, and the increasingly dangerous world today, but prepare our Navy, the personnel, and the material for the challenges of tomorrow. To the War College Foundation, thank you for all you do to support both the legacy and the future of this organization. It's clear the college would not be as successful as it is without the professional relationship with your organization. To the leaders of the state, the local community, the stellar reputation of this college across the joint force is due in no small measure to the incredible hospitality and the support of your constituencies. I look forward to working with you all in the months and the years ahead to strengthen these key relationships. And then finally to family and friends. To my mom and dad, I know that they could not be here today, but I can guarantee you I would not be here today had it not been for their incredible love and their support. So to mom and dad, thanks for being such great parents. To the Ligos, thank you for standing in today as their surrogates here today. To Cousin Hopman, so happy you were able to make it, make the drive up. To Frogman teammates, Jane Marvin is a lovely wife, Joanna. Coach, I think you're here, there's coach in the back. Thanks for your service to the nation and sharing today with me. And then finally to my best friend, my soul mate and my wife Erin, throughout my career, through the good times and the tough times you have been a steady source of support. As I've said before, I'm a better person and a better officer because of you and because of having you in my life. Thanks for hanging through the difficult times and look forward to our adventures here in Newport. General Dempsey, the current chief or chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, he has identified leadership. So the leadership of the United States military as the incalculable competitive advantage we have over our adversaries. I think this is an incredibly powerful statement and it underscores the importance of this institution. Let me close it by stating again how honored I am to serve as the 55th president of the Naval War College. I look forward to working with you all as we not only preserve but advance this competitive advantage, our Navy's future leaders. Thank you all again. God bless you and God bless the United States of America. Ladies and gentlemen, please rise for the benediction. Let us pray. Lord, thank you for your presence with us today. Please grant your blessings upon the carters and the hows for the new challenges and wonderful opportunities that await them. And bless the work of this place as it educates and develops leaders. And please be with all who stand watch around the world this day for the causes of peace and justice. Strengthen, encourage, and protect them and their loved ones. May we look to you each day knowing that you have promised to be near to all who call upon your name. We seek your blessing. Amen. Ladies and gentlemen, please remain standing for the departure of the official party. Poston, post aside, boys. Chief of Naval Operations, departing. Rear Admiral, United States Navy, departing. President, Naval War College, departing. Ladies and gentlemen, this concludes today's ceremony. Guests are cordially invited to attend the reception in Spruin's Lobby just behind the auditorium here and Colbert Plaza. Thank you for coming.