USS Spruance Holds Change of Command

by DDG 111 PAO

18 December 2020 SAN DIEGO -- San Diego (December 18, 2020) - USS Spruance (DDG 111) held a change of command ceremony on the ship’s forecastle while pier side at Naval Base San Diego.
 
Commander Micah T. Sybor relieved Commander James J. Sordi, becoming the eighth Commanding Officer of the Arleigh Burke-class guided missile destroyer.  The socially-distanced ceremony, presided over by Captain T. J. Zerr, Commander, Destroyer Squadron TWO ONE, took place in front of a small contingent of family and crew members and was live streamed virtually for those unable to attend.
 
Cmdr. Sordi, a Brooklyn Native and graduate of the State University of New York Maritime College, served as the Commanding Officer since August 2019.  During his tour in command, he spearheaded a high tempo sustainment phase that included missions in the Southern California operating area and participation in the USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN 71) Carrier Strike Group COMPTUEX.  Additionally, he directed a nine-month dry-dock restricted availability in San Diego’s BAE shipyard where the ship’s propulsion plant, combat systems, weapons, and hull were overhauled, maintained, and upgraded.  Prior to his command of USS Spruance, he served as the ship’s Executive Officer where he led the crew through an eight-month deployment with the USS John C. Stennis (CVN 74) and Carrier Strike Group 3.  The ship’s performance during that timeframe was recognized with the Battle E.
 
Commander Sordi’s next duty assignment is as Director of the Commander’s Action Group at Naval Surface and Mine Warfighting, where he will oversee surface force tactics development.  Addressing the command, he said, “It has been an honor of a lifetime to serve as both your Executive Officer and later as your Commanding Officer.” He alluded to Admiral Scott Smith’s turn over speech from when he assumed command of U.S Pacific Fleet, stating that “great teams are determined by the manner in which they face challenges.”  
 
“This is a team any Captain would be proud to lead,” said Cmdr. Sordi. Whether the crew was sailing through contested waters, executing an arduous maintenance phase, or spending long work days preparing for inspectors, the crew met every challenge with vigor and instilled in every inspector that walked across the brow the pride every Sailor has in the ship and their shipmates. 
 
“SPRUANCE, it is my honor to assume duties as your commanding officer. I will work hard for you, I will always try to do the right thing, and I will do everything I can to take care of this crew,” Sybor said. Commander Sybor takes command as the ship prepares for Basic Phase training while continuing its commitment to building a culture of excellence. In his closing remarks he illuminated the crew’s ability to “handle great adversity and overcome any obstacle,” and stated that “together we will continue the tradition of Battle readiness and victory at sea.”
 
Commander Sybor is a native of Baltimore, Maryland and 2002 graduate of the United States Naval Academy, earning a Bachelor of Science in Political Science.  His past assignments include Strike Officer, Auxiliaries Officer, and Navigator in USS Stout (DDG 55) where DDG Crew Sierra executed an Atlantic Fleet Sea Swap with USS Gonzales (DDG 66) and USS Laboon (DDG 58).  Additionally, he served as Chief Engineer in USS Milius (DDG 69), Executive Officer on Mine Countermeasures Crew (MCM) Bulwark, and Commanding Officer of MCM Crew Fearless where he completed the last MCM rotational deployment to 5th Fleet in Command of USS Dextrous (MCM 12).  Ashore, he taught the Senior Material Officer Readiness Course and served as the Command Qualification Assessment coordinator at Surface Warfare Officer’s School in Newport, RI.  Prior to assuming command, he served as Spruance’s Executive Officer from June 2019 to October 2020.
 
USS Spruance is homeported in San Diego, and is the 61^st Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer. Her mission areas include air-warfare, surface and subsurface warfare, strike and land attack operations, and command, control, communications, computers, combat systems and intelligence (C5I) operations.
 
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