Naval Station Rota, Spain –
Cmdr. Tyson M. Young relieved Cmdr. Peter F. Halvorsen as commanding officer of the Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Carney (DDG 64) during a change of command ceremony April 20, 2018, at Naval Station Rota, Spain.
“It has been the highest honor of my life to serve as Carney’s commanding officer and lead the amazing men and women of Carney Nation. Together, we met every mission and operational assignment put to us. I know that Cmdr. Young will continue to lead Carney professionally into the future,” said Halvorsen.
The ceremony was attended by the Carney crew and was presided over by Capt. Matt Lehman, commodore of Task Force 65.
“Today as we bid fair winds and following seas to a good friend, one of the great leaders in the surface warfare community, at the same time we welcome another quality leader to the crucible of command at Sea,” said Lehman.
Halvorsen assumed command in November 2016. During his command tour, Carney completed three patrols in the U.S. 6th Fleet area of operations. The ship participated in exercises Joint Warrior, Mavi Balina, and Sea Breeze and completed Flag Officer Sea Training.
During the patrols the ship completed 20 underway replenishments, 51 strait transits and 21 port visits in 14 different countries. Carney completed 20 major ship certifications, earned the 2017 Close-In Weapons System Excellence Award and the 2017 Destroyer Squadron 60 Battle “E”.
Halvorsen’s next assignment will be as director of the command at sea department of the Surface Warfare Officer School in Newport, Rhode Island.
“It is a privilege and an honor to serve as commanding officer with the finest crew in the Navy, on 505 -feet of American fighting steel. I am thankful to Cmdr. Halvorsen for paving the way for Carney’s success and I am eager to carry on the Carney tradition,” said Young.
Carney, forward-deployed in the U.S. 6th Fleet area of operations, conducts the full spectrum of naval operations, often in concert with allied, joint, and interagency partners, in order to advance U.S. national interests and security and stability in Europe and Africa.