Buzby 25th Commander of Military Sealift

Monday, October 19, 2009

Rear Adm. Mark H. Buzby became the 25th commander of the U.S. Navy's Military Sealift Command. 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-ft 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.

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.