Wilhite assumes command of Seabee Battalion

CMDCM James McKinney, Naval Mobile Construction Battalion 14 command master chief, right, begins the transfer of the command colors from Cmdr. Marc F. Williams (center) to Cmdr. David Wilhite. This display is symbolic of the peaceful transfer of command from one commanding officer to the next. (U.S. Navy photo/Senior Chief Mass Communication Specialist Jeffrey J. Pierce)

Wilhite assumes command of Seabee Battalion

Published Dec. 7, 2015
By Deidre Ortiz
AEDC/PA

ARNOLD AIR FORCE BASE, TENN. -- In a ceremony held Nov. 5 at the Naval Construction Center in Gulfport, Miss., Cmdr. David Wilhite of the U.S. Navy Reserve, assumed command of the Naval Mobile Construction Battalion 14. Wihite currently also serves as the Simplified Acquisition of Base Engineering Requirements program manager at AEDC.

Wilhite relieves Cmdr. Marc F. Williams, the former commander. Williams transferred to Naval Facilities Engineering Command's Navy Reserve Contingency Engineering Unit as a staff officer.

Capt. Frederick A. Mucke, Commodore, 7th Naval Construction Regiment, was the guest speaker for the Change of Command ceremony.

Upon receiving the reigns of the battalion, Wilhite expressed gratitude for the opportunity.

"I would like to thank the men and women of all ranks currently serving as members of NMCB 14, for all of their extremely valuable service and for the opportunity to join their team and for the privilege of command," Wilhite said. "I am humbled with this great honor of having been selected to lead this battalion for the next two years. I am very excited about the future of NMCB 14 and the accomplishments that lie ahead for the battalion."

NMCB 14 is one of five reserve Seabee battalions in the Naval Construction Force and is homeported in Gulfport. Seabee battalions specialize in contingency construction, disaster response and humanitarian assistance.

Some of the information included in this release was taken from the Nov. 12 issue of the Seabee Courier.

-AEDC-