SEAL BEACH – Capt. Tripp Hardy took the helm as the new commanding officer of the Naval Weapons Station Seal Beach in a traditional change of command ceremony Friday morning.
Hardy relieves Capt. Terry Auberry, who plans to retire after nearly 38 years of service.
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Hardy has 28 years of experience in the Navy. His previous tours included command of guided missile destroyer USS Sampson (DDG 102). He was the executive officer of the guided missile cruiser USS Ticonderoga (CG 47), and an assistant Naval Advisor in the U.S. Department of State. His most recent tour was as the Surface Operations Officer and Current Operations Officer of Strike Force Training Pacific, according to a news release.
During Auberry’s tenure, Naval Weapons Station Seal Beach received multiple Navy-wide awards for safety, environmental stewardship, energy and water management and housing operations, station spokesman Gregg Smith wrote in a news release.
Earlier this year, the weapons station was awarded the 2012 Installation Excellence Award for Small Installations, giving it bragging rights as the best small base in the U.S. Navy.
“I can’t imagine a better end to my career than with what our Seal Beach team has been able to accomplish,” Auberry said in a news release. “The awards and accolades belong to all of the outstanding Sailors, Navy civilians and contractors I’ve had the pleasure of working with. I will definitely leave here knowing the base is in good hands.”
The 10 a.m. invitation-only event featured Rear Admiral Dixon Smith, the commander of Navy Region Southwest, as the guest speaker.
The Naval Weapons Station Seal Beach is the Pacific Fleet’s premier ordnance loading and storage installation. The base services approximately 50 United States Navy vessels annually. The station began operations in 1944 as a U.S. Naval Ammunition and Net Depot.
Information: 562-626-7215.
Contact the writer: rkopetman@ocregister.com
