In ceremony muted by virus, Navy region gets a new commander at Kitsap-Bangor

A new admiral took command of Navy Region Northwest at Bangor last week. And, in a nod to coronavirus containment, the transfer was low-key, indoors and without the usual pomp and ceremony.

The new commander is Rear Admiral Stephen Barnett, a former Naval aviator who was most recently deputy commander of the Naval Installations Command, which overseas all Navy bases.

Barnett relieved Rear Admiral Scott Gray, who will take over as commander of the Navy region encompassing Europe, Africa and Southwest Asia.

Barnett noted that he has followed Gray into Navy jobs before.

“I’ve followed behind Scott Gray here and this will be the third time,” Barnett said gesturing towards Gray. “And every time I’ve followed behind him it has been a great turnover and he’s handed over a great staff, product and effort.”

The muted change-of-command ceremony occurred Friday, March 14, in the Navy Region Northwest Bulding on Naval Base Kitsap-Bangor. Due to current COVID-19 concerns, the commanders decided to forgo the usual mass formation and change of colors.

Barnett is a native of Columbia, Tennessee. He earned his commission at Aviation Officer Candidate School in 1991. He is familiar with the Pacific Northwest having previously served as a naval flight officer attached to Patrol Squadron (VP) 46, Naval Air Station Whidbey Island.

“The assets and missions in this area are definitely humbling and impressive,” said Barnett, who toured Puget Sound Navy installations the past two weeks in preparation for assuming command.

Gray was awarded the Legion of Merit gold star in lieu of a fifth award during the ceremony.

“We have some of the most critical national missions here and we have a collection of critical capabilities unique in the world,” Gray said, reflecting on his time in command. “Growler aircraft, ballistic missile submarines, aircraft carriers, the expertise at the shipyard and the amount of maintenance work they do to keep our fleet at the leading edge. We can’t do what we need to do without these critical capabilities.”

Gray also reflected on the relationship the Navy continues to share with surrounding communities. “There’s just a phenomenal amount of underlying support for the military and the people who are doing our mission,” Gray said, according to a Navy release.

NRNW encompasses the eleven-state area of Washington, Oregon, Idaho, Wyoming, Montana, Alaska, North Dakota, South Dakota, Nebraska, Minnesota, and Iowa. It was formerly known as the 13th Naval District.

This story was originally published March 17, 2020 at 12:00 AM.