USS Philippine Sea Holds Change of Command
Story Number: NNS080123-03
Release Date: 1/23/2008 9:09:00 AM
By Ensign Patrick Shelton, USS Philippine Sea Public Affairs
MAYPORT, Fla. (NNS) -- A change of command ceremony was held aboard the guided-missile cruiser USS Philippine Sea (CG-58) on Jan. 17.
Capt. Gary R. Parriott relieved Capt. Kim. A. Parker as commanding officer of Philippine Sea.
Parriott comes to Philippine Sea after last serving as chief of staff for the Enterprise Strike Group. Prior to that, he commanded Mine Countermeasure (MCM) rotational crews aboard USS Warrior (MCM-10) and USS Dextrous (MCM-13). He also commanded USS McClusky (FFG-41) for two counternarcotics deployments.
His other sea tours include: missions as missile officer and 1st lieutenant aboard USS England (CG 22); a personal exchange tour with the Royal Navy aboard HMS Danae (F-47); and as combat systems officer aboard USS Rodney M. Davis (FFG-60). Additionally, Parriott's other assignments include tours with the Army Command and General Staff College, N81 at OPNAV in Washington and the Missile Defense Agency. He holds a Master's degree in Physics from the Naval Postgraduate School and graduated in 1984 from Iowa State University with a Bachelor of Science degree in Physics.
Parker leaves Philippine Sea and takes on his next duty assignment at Special Operations Command, MacDill Air Force Base, Tampa, Fla.
Philippine Sea is currently preparing for its regularly scheduled 2008 deployment, with the Nassau Strike Group (NASSG).
NASSG, made up of more than 5,000 Sailors and Marines, projects sea power ashore by maintaining the capability of landing amphibious forces by helicopters, amphibious track vehicles, air cushion landing craft, and assault craft whenever and wherever the need arises.
