NAPLES, ITALY (USTCNS) --- Capt. Dirk P. Deverill, USN, relieved Capt. Gary J. Ellis, USN, in a traditional Navy change of command ceremony, as Commander, Military Sealift Command, Europe, or MSCEUR, on July 26, 2002 at Naval Support Activity, Capodichino, Naples, Italy. Rear Adm. David L. Brewer, III, USN, Commander, Military Sealift Command, was the ceremony’s principal speaker.

Capt. Ellis commanded an organization, which deployed and redeployed thousands of tons of military cargo supporting U.S. peacekeepers in both Bosnia and Herzegovina and Kosovo. In addition, MSCEUR’s combat stores ships and fleet oilers kept U.S. Sixth Fleet and NATO’s Standing Naval Force Mediterranean, or SNFM, warships combat-ready, with spare parts, fresh food, and fuel. MSCEUR’s special mission ships performed oceanographic and hydrographic research, and submarine sureveillance missions from Norway to Africa. MSCEUR’s ‘prepositioned’ ships maintained a strategic forward-presence in the Mediterranean — shepherding U.S. Marine Corps heavy combat equipment and supplies, and supplies for the U.S. Air Force around-the-clock, 365 days a year.

Capt. Deverill reports to MSCEUR after serving as Assistant Chief of Staff, Operations and Intelligence, at NATO’s East Atlantic Regional Headquarters in London, U.K. A 1976 graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy, he served aboard USS Tattnall, USS Oliver Hazard Perry, USS John F. Kennedy, USS Deyo, and commanded the frigate USS McInerney. His shore assignments include Officer Programs and Nuclear Power Recruiter for Naval Recruiting District, Columbus, Ohio, an assignment to the Joint Chiefs of Staff as a Politico-Military Planner, responsible for developing military relations in Central and Eastern Europe for the European Division of the Strategy and Policy Directorate (J5), Washington, D.C., and with the Navy Staff as the Director, Middle East, African and South East Asian Politico-Military Affairs (N521), Washington, D.C.

Capt. Deverill holds a Master’s Degree in Public Administration from Shippensburg University, is a graduate of the U.S. Army War College, Carlisle, Pa., and completed a National Security Fellowship at the John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University.

Capt. Ellis returns to Virginia Beach, Va., and will shortly retire from active duty completing 30 years of Naval service.

For more information, contact Mr. Edward Baxter, Public Affairs Officer, Military Sealift Command, Europe, at DSN: 626-4096; commercial (39) 081-568-4096, or email baxtere@msc.naples.navy.mil.