Navy Rear Adm. Dee Mewbourne, former director of maritime operations at the U.S. Fleet Forces Command, formally assumed duties as commander of the Military Sealift Command during a ceremony held Thursday aboard the USNS Lewis B. Puller ship.
He succeeds Navy Rear Adm. T. K. Shannon, who has retired after a 34-year military career, the service branch said Friday.
Mewbourne previously commanded Electronic Attack Squadron 139 aboard USS Abraham Lincoln, USS Nashville, USS Dwight D. Eisenhower, USS Enterprise, USS Harry S. Truman, Naval Service Training Command and Carrier Strike Groups 3 and 11.
He completed sea assigments flying the A-6E Intruder aircraft in Attack Squadron (VA) 34 embarked on USS America and VA-75 on USS John F. Kennedy as well as served as executive officer of VA-196 on USS Carl Vinson and VAQ-139 on Lincoln.
His onshore assignments include roles as a flight instructor in VA-42 and project officer at the Strike Aircraft Test Directorate.
The 33-year Navy veteran also served as military assistant and trip coordinator for the Defense Department secretary and deputy secretary, chief of staff at Navy Cyber Forces and on the staff of the Naval Air Force Atlantic commander.