The Navy announced its new picks for the service’s special operations and military sealift commands.
According to a Monday announcement from the service, Rear Adm. Timothy G. Szymanski – currently serving as assistant commander for operations at Joint Special Operations Command (JSOC) at Fort Bragg, N.C. – will take command at an unspecified date of Naval Special Warfare Command in San Diego, Calif.
Syzmanski will take over from Rear Adm. Brian Losey – the current Naval Special Warfare Command commander.
Losey has drawn scrutiny from the leaders of the Senate Armed Services Committee – chair Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) and ranking member Sen. Jack Reed (D-R.I.) – who sent a letter to Secretary of the Navy Ray Mabus expressing concern over several Inspector General investigations into retaliation against whistleblowers.
“We believe that were the Committee to consider [Rear Adm.] Losey’s nomination today, with knowledge of these investigations and findings, the Committee would not act favorably on his nomination,” read the Jan. 14, 2016 letter signed by Reed and McCain.
“Therefore, we urge you to exercise your authority as Navy Secretary and not promote him to the next higher grade.”
In a late Monday statement provided to USNI News, Navy chief spokesman Rear Adm. Dawn Cutler said Losey’s next assignment had yet to be determined.
“No decision has been made on Rear Adm. Losey’s follow-on orders,” Cutler said.
“It is not uncommon for an incumbent’s relief to be identified before follow-on operational or retirement orders are approved.”
Szymanski, Losey’s relief, is a 1985 U.S. Naval Academy graduate and a career SEAL.
His previous assignments include, “platoon and task unit commander at SEAL Delivery Vehicle Team 2. He served as troop and squadron commander and as operations officer and deputy commanding officer at Naval Special Warfare Development Group. He commanded Special Boat Unit 26, SEAL Team 2, O6-level Joint Task Force in Afghanistan, and Naval Special Warfare Group 2. He served as deputy commanding general sustainment to Special Operations Joint Task Force-Afghanistan/NATO Special Operations Component Command-Afghanistan,” according to his official bio.
Military Sealift Command – the organization responsible for the Navy’s logistics ships – is also expecting a new commander, according to the Monday statement.
Rear Adm. Dee L. Mewbourne, currently director of maritime operations at U.S. Fleet Forces, will take over U.S. Military Sealift Command (MSC) in Norfolk, Va.
Mewbourne is a 1982 Naval Academy graduate and a career Naval Flight Officer — first in A-6E Intruders and then transitioning to EA-6B Prowler electronic attack aircraft.
His commands include “Electronic Attack Squadron (VAQ) 139 aboard USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN-72), USS Nashville (LPD-13), USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN-69), USS Enterprise (CVN-65), USS Harry S. Truman (CVN-75), Naval Service Training Command (NSTC), Carrier Strike Group (CSG) 3 and CSG-11,” according to his official biography.
Mewbourne will relieve current MSC commander, Rear Adm. Thomas Shannon.
The following is the Feb. 29, 2016 flag officer announcement from the U.S. Navy.
Flag Officer Assignments
The Secretary of the Navy Ray Mabus and Chief of Naval Operations Adm. John M. Richardson announced today the following assignments:
Rear Adm. John D. Alexander will be assigned as director, maritime operations, N3/N5/N2/N7, U.S. Fleet Forces Command, Norfolk, Virginia. Alexander is currently serving as commander, Task Force Seven Zero; and commander, Carrier Strike Group Five, Yokosuka, Japan.
Rear Adm. (lower half) Dee L. Mewbourne will be assigned as commander, Military Sealift Command, Norfolk, Virginia. Mewbourne is currently serving as director, maritime operations, N3/N5/N2/N7, U.S. Fleet Forces Command, Norfolk, Virginia.
Rear Adm. (lower half) Timothy G. Szymanski will be assigned as commander, Naval Special Warfare Command, San Diego, California. Szymanski is currently serving as assistant commander, Joint Special Operations Command, U.S. Special Operations Command, Fort Bragg, North Carolina.
Rear Adm. (lower half) John W. Tammen Jr., will be assigned as commander, Submarine Group Nine, Silverdale, Washington. Tammen is currently serving as deputy director, plans, J-5, U.S. Strategic Command, Offutt Air Force Base, Nebraska.
