Politics & Government

Ship Changes Command at Sea

USS Makin Island sees new skipper while on deployment to Middle East.

The San Diego-based amphibious assault ship USS Makin Island is under new command after its former skipper was chosen for a staff position with the Navy's Pacific Fleet.

The change of command from Capt. Jim Landers to Capt. Cedric Pringle took place aboard ship a little more than three months into its maiden deployment to the western Pacific and Middle East.

Landers – who assumed command in August 2010 and put the new vessel through its sea trials – will be the Pacific Fleet's operations officer in Honolulu. Pringle was the executive officer of the Makin Island.

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"This is truly a dream come true," Pringle said. "This dream started about 25 years ago on the deck of a U.S. aircraft carrier as a young boot camp ensign trying to get my (surface warfare officer qualifications)."

The Makin Island is deployed with the amphibious dock landing ship USS Pearl Harbor, the amphibious transport dock ship USS New Orleans and personnel from the 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit.

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The ship is named after a Pacific Ocean atoll raided by Marines in August 1942, during World War II. The atoll is now known as Butaritari.


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