Officer Training Command changes commanding officers

NAVAL STATION NEWPORT, R. I. – A change of command ceremony was held for Officer Training Command (OTC) in the Captain Howard N. Kay Hall Feb. 24.
    In the traditional naval ceremony, Capt. Vernon P. Kemper relieved Capt. Kenneth L. Gray as commanding officer of OTC.
    The Chief of Staff of Naval Service Training Command (NSTC), Capt. Caroline M. Olinger, was the keynote speaker at the ceremony.
    "It's great to be with you this morning for today's Change of Command, the time-honored ceremony that formally transfers command and authority from one superb Naval officer to another," Olinger said.
    OTC is overseen by NSTC, headquartered at Naval Station Great Lakes, Ill. NSTC manages all initial Navy officer and enlisted accessions training except for the U.S. Naval Academy (USNA).
    OTC oversees five officer training schools located aboard Naval Station Newport. There is the Officer Candidate School (OCS); the Officer Development School (ODS); Direct Commission Officer Indoctrination School (DCOIC); Limited Duty Officer and Chief Warrant Officer (LDO/CWO) Academy and the Seaman-to-Admiral (STA-21) school. The staff officers, RDCs and Marine Corps Drill Instructore (DIs) also provide training assistance for these schools, especially with the academic and physical training of the students.
    The change of command ceremony also marked the retirement of Gray and 28 years of Navy service.
    "I began my career here at Officer Candidate School back in 1984, and I've been thrilled to finish up my 28 years of service back here at Officer Training Command where it all started," Gray said.
    Speaking on behalf of Rear Adm. David F. Steindl, NSTC commander, Olinger said NSTC could not have been more fortunate to have Gray as the commanding officer of OTC.
    "With critical programs such as Officer Candidate School (OCS), Officer Development School (ODS), the Limited Duty Officer/Chief Warrant Officer (LDO/CWO) Academy, Direct Commission Officer (DCO) School, and the Seaman to Admiral-21/Naval Science Institute (STA-21/NSI) school; OTC continues to provide capable naval officers to the fleet," Olinger told the more than 200 family members, friends, staff and students in the audience.  "(They are) officers who (today) continuously excel and succeed at their careers and lead from the front."
    Olinger reminded everyone that OTC provides officer accession training to approximately two-thirds of the Navy's new officers each year.
    Olinger then counted off the numerous achievements completed by Gray and his staff since the Butler, Pa., native assumed command of OTC two years ago.
    "To detail all the accomplishments that he and the staff have made during his tour would simply take too long, but it is important that I highlight some of the most significant and positive achievements that will have a lasting impact here at OTC and on our Navy," Olinger said.
    That list included overseeing the preparation and training of more than 4,000 officer accessions, the implementation of a $47 million construction project for new barracks, and completion of the $1.8 million refurbishment of the damage control wet trainer, called Buttercup.
    Olinger said Gray managed the development, building, and integration of the Immersive Naval Officer Training Simulator (INOTS), a $3 million project, into the ODS curriculum on-schedule and on-budget. He provided mentorship sessions to all future submariners on career milestones and preparation for upcoming assignments. He supervised Don't Ask Don't Tell repeal training to more than 750 officer accessions. He was heavily involved in the development of the course curriculum for the High Ropes confidence course, from scratch, and held an impressive record of zero safety mishaps on the course.
    Olinger also pointed to the significant reduction in attrition at OCS.
    "A mere two months into 2012, he has already lowered OCS student attrition by 44 percent this year," she said.  "This is on top of a 29 percent reduction achieved last year."
    Olinger said the performance of the OTC staff and the quality of the officers they've produced has been superb and is a direct reflection of Gray's leadership.
    She added Gray's tour as commanding officer at OTC has been marked by mission success, personal empowerment and an improved quality of life for every member of the command.
    "You instilled the call to serve, proudly, professionally, and with passion in your staff and students alike, and they came through for you because you were there for them," she said.
    "Your service here at OTC has touched the lives of thousands of young men and women who've chosen to serve our great nation through service in the fleet," she said. "We're certainly going to miss your expertise and keen insight in the months ahead, as we continue to focus on manning the fleet with the right number and right skill mix of sailors."
    Olinger said OTC has been left in the capable hands of Kemper.
    "In Captain Kemper, you are very fortunate to have an OCS graduate as your new CO," she said. "Captain Kemper graduated just 25 short years ago from this fine command, and his career, like Ken's, has been highlighted by superior dedication and performance."
    Kemper comes to OTC after completing his tour as the Commander Submarine Force, U.S. Pacific Fleet Representative at Puget Sound Naval Shipyard, where he was directly responsible to the force commander for the training and readiness of the propulsion plant and propulsion watch-standers of SUBPAC nuclear submarines and submarine tenders undergoing modernization or overhaul.
    Kemper, a native of Festus, Mo., graduated from the Missouri University of Science and Technology in 1986 with a bachelor of science degree in chemical engineering. He was commissioned here in November 1986 following completion of OCS. 
    His sea-going assignments have included duty aboard both attack and ballistic missile submarines in the Atlantic and Pacific Fleet: division officer tours aboard USS Glenard P. Lipscomb (SSN 685) and USS Finback (SSN 670), duty as the navigator and engineer officer onboard USS James K. Polk (SSN 645), and assignment as executive officer aboard USS Nebraska (SSBN 739) (BLUE). 
    His shore assignments have included duty on the staff of the U.S. Joint Forces Command in Norfolk, Va., where he served as maritime operations officer, and at the Navy Personnel Command, where he served as assistant director of the center for career development. From April 2005 to June 2006, he was assigned as the deputy commander of Commander Submarine Squadron Seventeen, where he was responsible for the training and readiness of eleven submarine crews.
    He served as commanding officer, Naval Submarine Support Center in Bangor, Wash., from June 2006 to October 2008, providing maintenance, logistics, administrative, legal, medical and religious programs support to over 4,000 sailors in 22 submarine crews assigned to the Pacific Northwest Region
    "I am grateful and honored to be standing here before you, and I remain in awe of the opportunities the Navy has afforded me," Kemper said. "I could not have been blessed with a more perfect set of orders. Returning to Newport means a great deal to me. I clearly remember standing where you are all sitting (in Kay Hall) in the fall of 1986 and raising my right hand to take the oath that has directed the course of my entire adult life. To this day witnessing an officer taking that oath still quickens my pulse and makes my heart swell."
    Kemper said he was inspired to do his utmost to serve, to lead and continue with the vital importance of the mission of OTC to the future leadership of the Navy.
    Following the awarding of the Legion of Merit Medal to Gray and the receiving of several letters of commendation and appreciation to Gray and his wife, Angela, and two daughters, Allyson and Kathryn, a passing of the flag ceremony was conducted, marking Gray's Navy career. OTC's command master chief, CMDCM(SW/AW) Matt Anuci, then recited "The Watch."
    Before being piped ashore, Gray thanked his staff one final time and noted it was hard departing.
    "As I look out on the audience and see my fantastic crew out there, I have to acknowledge that it has been them that have done all the heavy lifting over the past 20 months," Gray said. "Every once in a while, they would ask my opinion just to make me feel good. But they did all the work."
    Gray also again thanked his family and fellow officers from neighboring commands at Naval Station Newport. He said he might have looked strangely at many who asked what he would do next in retirement.
    "If I did or do look at anyone a little strangely like I was just a little bit confused, please understand that I'm not at the point of feeling like celebrating," Gray said. "The fact is, I'm a little sad. I love serving our country. I love getting out of bed every morning and putting on the cloth of our nation. And I love working with the great men and women who share with me the willingness to sacrifice and serve. I can't believe how blessed I've been and now, if you'll excuse me, I just remembered I have to move my truck because I'm parked in the commanding officer's parking spot."