MSC Sealift Logistics Europe, New Commander

The leadership of Sealift Logistics Command Europe and Commander, Task Force 63 changed hands at SEALOGEUR headquarters in Naples, Italy. Capt. James E. Tranoris assumed the dual command from outgoing commander, Capt. Nicholas H. Holman.

SEALOGEUR, Military Sealift Command's arm in Europe and Africa, oversees at-sea movement of combat cargo for U.S. 6th Fleet. CTF-63 is responsible for the ships and aircraft that provide logistics support to 6th Fleet combatant ships. The commander's area of responsibility includes more than 20 million square nautical miles of ocean, 91 countries and 67 percent of the world's coastlines. It covers roughly half of the Atlantic Ocean, from the North Pole to Antarctica, as well as the Adriatic, Baltic, Barents, Black, Caspian, Mediterranean and North seas.

Holman, who became SEALOGEUR commander in March 2006, thanked his staff of three years.

During Holman's tenure the command has worked with 150 ships, 40,000 passengers, 23 million square feet of cargo and over 34 million barrels of fuel.

Holman's next assignment is in Seattle, where he will serve as commanding officer of the NROTC program at the University of Washington.

Tranoris, who last served as chief of staff for Commander, Naval Forces Korea, said "I look forward to the challenges and opportunities of SEALOGEUR and CTF-63 as they sustain forces and improve regional maritime safety and security while strengthening maritime partnerships in Africa."

Tranoris, a native of Asbury Park, N.J., was commissioned through NROTC in 1984 after graduating from Boston University with a Bachelor of Arts in political science. His at-sea assignments include serving aboard USS Biddle, USS Iowa, USS Durham, USS Wasp and USS Austin.

Ashore he served at Fleet Activities, Chinhae, Korea; the Defense Threat Reduction Agency; and Naval Forces Korea. Tranoris holds a master's degree in business from Webster University and a master's degree in National Resource Strategy from the National Defense University.

SEALOGEUR is one of five worldwide operational commands that are part of the Navy's Military Sealift Command, headquartered in Washington, D.C. Military Sealift Command operates approximately 110 non-combatant, merchant mariner-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.