By MC1(SW) Cliff Williams, NMCB 133 Public Affairs
(From left to right) Cmdr. Miguel Dieguez, incoming NMCB 133 commanding officer; Capt. John Adametz, commander, NCG 2; and Cmdr. Jeff Powell, outgoing NMCB 133 commanding officer, salute while the color guard parades the colors during the battalion s change of command ceremony aboard NCBC Gulfport, Miss., June 19. (Photo by MC1(SW) Cliff Williams/150619-N-EW956-013)
Naval Mobile Construction Battalion (NMCB) 133 marked a transition in the battalion's history with a change of command ceremony aboard Naval Construction Battalion Center (NCBC) Gulfport, Miss., June 19. During the ceremony, Cmdr. Jeff Powell was relieved by Cmdr. Miguel Dieguez.
Powell served as the commanding officer since June 2013, and most recently returned from the command s deployment where he exercised complete command and control of 13 enduring detail sites, operating in 30 different locations across 20 countries. During this deployment, Seabees completed the construction of the 135-man security personnel man camp aiding in the stand-up of Naval Support Facility Deveselu, Romania, supporting the Aegis Ashore Facility. They erected a 55-foot steel tower providing communications support to Passive Countermeasure Systems and Shipboard Electronic Systems Evaluation Facilities operations in Rota, Spain. NMCB 133 also supported special operations forces throughout AFRICOM, including the stand-up of Camp Tassone in N Djamena, Chad.
Under Powell s command, NMCB 133 supported Operation United Assistance, providing security requirements, engineering support and logistics for this presidentially mandated 45-day mission in Monrovia, Liberia. These Seabees constructed the support facilities for a 25-bed hospital, mentored local contractors and the Armed Forces of Liberia, provided contract oversight, and conducted site assessments for numerous Ebola Treatment Units (ETUs).
This is Powell s second duty assignment to NMCB 133; he had served as the battalion's executive officer from 2008 to 2010. In a speech to the command, Powell expressed his gratitude to the Seabees who made his second tour with NMCB 133 a successful one.
Your professionalism and motivation has been remarkable. As I move on, I take with me lifelong memories and the comfort that the tremendous legacy of the Runnin Roos is secure, said Powell. I will be forever grateful for the opportunity to serve alongside you these past two years.
Powell received the Meritorious Service Medal from the guest speaker, Capt. John Adametz,
commander, Naval Construction Group (NCG) 2. Powell will now transfer to the Office of the Chief of Naval Operations at the Pentagon.
Dieguez, a Hartford, Conn., native, said that he is proud to be associated with a force equally capable of restoring hope and expanding partnerships through disaster recovery, humanitarian assistance and civic action.
"My goal and my vision for this command is to continue maintaining the highest standard of service, readiness and conduct built on a culture of professionalism, pride, respect and dignity," said Dieguez. "We will be ready and capable to execute quality construction whenever and wherever this nation needs us to do so.
Dieguz was recently assigned to Navy Region Southeast, Jacksonville, Fla., where he was the assistant regional engineer.
A change of command is a military tradition that represents a formal transfer of authority and responsibility for a unit from one commanding officer to another. The passing of colors, standards or ensigns from an outgoing commander to an incoming one ensures that the unit and its service members is never without official leadership, a continuation of trust, and also signifies an allegiance to their commanding officer.