Military Sealift Command: In the News

MSC announces new commander and MSC ships deliver cargo for humanitarian relief efforts.

• U.S. Navy's Military Sealift Command welcomes new commander

Rear Adm. Mark H. Buzby became the 25th commander of the U.S. Navy's Military Sealift Command today. The global command, headquartered in Washington, D.C., is the ocean transportation provider for the Department of Defense - responsible for the operation of more than 110 civilian-crewed, noncombatant ships, which support military and humanitarian missions worldwide.

Buzby, a 30-year Navy veteran, assumed command during a ceremony aboard Navy hospital ship USNS Comfort in Baltimore. The 894-foot ship, renowned for its humanitarian and civic assistance deployments to South and Central America in recent years, represents just one of MSC's unique ships and diverse missions.

Buzby, a native of Atlantic City, N.J., graduated from the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy in Kings Point, N.Y., and was commissioned in 1979.

As the new commander of MSC, Buzby will be responsible for a fleet of government-owned and chartered ships, as well as a workforce of more than 9,000 civilian and military personnel operating at sea and ashore worldwide.

"I am incredibly humbled and proud beyond words to be selected to lead this important command in executing the most vital mission in the Global War on Terrorism today - sustaining our warfighters forward," said Buzby in his remarks to more than 400 ceremony guests.

MSC conducts a wide variety of seagoing missions in support of the U.S. armed forces. The command's ships deliver critical supplies to U.S. Navy ships underway; conduct specialized missions such as charting ocean bottoms and conducting undersea surveillance; strategically preposition combat cargo at sea around the world for rapid delivery ashore for combat operations or disaster relief; and transport military cargo and supplies used by deployed U.S. forces and coalition partners.

In the last three years, MSC ships have delivered 9 million gallons of fuel and nearly 7,000 tons of supplies and combat power to U.S. warfighters worldwide; deployed on five humanitarian and civic assistance missions treating more than 370,000 patients in 25 countries; evacuated 6,700 U.S. citizens from Beirut to safety in 2006; conducted annual resupply missions to Antarctica and Greenland; assisted in the search for missing service members in the waters off of Vietnam; and conducted a broad range of other missions.

Buzby comes to MSC from U.S. Fleet Forces Command in Norfolk, Va., where he was deputy chief of staff for global force management and joint operations.

Earlier in Buzby's career, he served in a diverse array of assignments at sea and ashore. Buzby's previous commands include destroyer USS Carney, Destroyer Squadron 31, Surface Warfare Officers School Command, and Joint Task Force Guantanamo.

As a flag officer, Buzby served on the Navy Staff as deputy for surface ships, deputy for surface warfare and deputy for expeditionary warfare.

Buzby holds master's degrees from the U.S. Naval War College in Strategic Studies and International Relations and from Salve Regina University in International Relations. Buzby is also a graduate of the Joint Forces Staff College.

Buzby relieved Rear Adm. Robert D. Reilly, Jr., who served as the commander of MSC since March 2006 and will retire after 34 years of distinguished Naval service.

A biography and a downloadable high resolution photo of Rear Adm. Mark H. Buzby are available at: http://www.msc.navy.mil/N00P/command.htm.

• MSC ships deliver cargo for humanitarian relief efforts in Indonesia following earthquake

Military Sealift Command dry cargo/ammunition ship USNS Richard E. Byrd and fleet replenishment oiler USNS Walter S. Diehl delivered urgently needed supplies, equipment and fuel off the coast of Indonesia Oct. 10 - 14, in response to the deadly earthquakes that struck the region Sept. 30.

At the request of the government of Indonesia and the U.S. Department of State, the Navy - including MSC - joined other branches of the U.S. military, international relief organizations and Indonesia's military to deliver food, fresh water and medical supplies to remote mountain villages. The U.S. Air Force also established a field hospital which treated more than 2,000 patients.

Byrd and Diehl teamed up with amphibious dock landing ship USS Denver and destroyer USS McCampbell off the coast of Western Sumatra.

Byrd sailed from Guam, arriving off Padang, Indonesia, Oct. 10. In addition to providing supplies and fuel to both Denver and McCampbell, two of Byrd's embarked SA-330J Puma helicopters, which are operated by a private company under contract to MSC, made a total of 39 sorties, carrying 97 U.S., Indonesian and relief organization passengers to conduct airborne surveys of heavily damaged areas.

"The Puma surveys were critical for decision makers on the ground, so they could target the areas where supplies and assistance were needed most," said Byrd's civil service master Capt. Robert Jaeger.

Civil service mariners aboard Diehl delivered the more than 18,000 pounds of foreign-assistance cargo to Byrd Oct. 13, via underway replenishment. The humanitarian cargo, which was loaded in Singapore Oct. 8, included water containers, surgical gloves and masks, blankets, water purification tablets, collapsible water bladders, tarps to be used for shelter, insect repellant and sun screen. Byrd transferred the cargo to USS Denver, which later brought it to hard-hit areas ashore.

"MSC ships stand ready to support humanitarian operations wherever we are needed, and the cargo Diehl delivered could make a huge impact on the lives of those affected by this devastating earthquake," said Diehl's civil service master Capt. Lawrence Carley.

After delivering the humanitarian cargo to Byrd, Diehl provided aviation and diesel fuel to Denver and McCampbell before departing the area later the same day to returning to its regular mission of resupplying ships in 7th Fleet.

"It was heartbreaking to be witness to the complete devastation Mother Nature is capable of," said Byrd's civilian air detachment officer in charge Michael P. Melia, working under contract to MSC. "More than 90 percent of the buildings were destroyed in many of the villages we visited. Hopefully, the efforts of the U.S. Navy will help these unfortunate people start to get back on their feet and on with their lives."

Byrd's helicopters flew more than 8,000 pounds of relief supplies ashore, including food, water and tarps.

Like Diehl, after completing its support to the disaster relief efforts, Byrd returned to routine underway replenishment operations supporting U.S. 7th Fleet ships at sea.

MSC operates approximately 110 noncombatant, civilian-crewed ships that replenish U.S. Navy ships, conduct specialized missions, strategically preposition combat cargo at sea around the world and move military cargo and supplies used by deployed U.S. forces and coalition partners.