Last modified Wed., February 04, 2009 - 04:00 PM
Originally created Thursday, February 5, 2009

New Skipper For USS Klakring

By Ensign Peter Goodman, USS Klakring Public Affairs

With a crisp exchange of salutes and the traditional "I relieve you, Sir!" Cmdr. Scott M. Smith relieved Cmdr. Ian R. Pollitt as Klakring's 15th commanding officer in ceremonies held Jan. 23 at NS Mayport. Commodore Glenn Zeiders, Commander, Destroyer Squadron 14 served as the ceremony's guest speaker.

In the months ahead, Klakring will serve with Standing NATO Maritime Group-1 (SNMG-1) for forward-deployed operations throughout EUCOM air of operation. Given Klakring's ambitious schedule, Smith will quickly be afforded an opportunity to experience the full range of leadership opportunities associated with command at sea.

Smith joins the ship after a tour with United States Fleet Forces Command (USFFC), where he served as the speechwriter for the Commander, Adm. Greenert.

Previous sea tours included service in USS Donald B. Barry (FF 1085); USS Cole (DDG 67); USS Stethem (DDG 63), and USS Ramage (DDG 61) and COMDESRON 28. C

Smith brings to Klakring a wealth of tactical and strategic level experience gained during eighteen years of naval service, and is looking forward to the opportunities that await as commanding officer.

Remarking on the change of command, Smith noted, "I think this moment is a renewal - an affirmation that the nation needs its Navy, and the Navy needs us."

Pollitt departs Klakring after a highly successful 18-month tour. During his tenure, the ship achieved astounding success as a forward-deployed asset conducting the counter-narcotics mission in USSOUTHCOM AOR.

Klakring interdicted more than $358 million in illicit narcotics and apprehended 15 narco-terrorists during this deployment, which included the third-largest go-fast cocaine seizure ever recorded.

Following this record-setting deployment, the ship conducted six months of sustainment operations for Commander, Second Fleet while preparing for inspection by the Navy Board of Inspection and Survey (INSURV). The ship scored above-average in most facets of this rigorous assessment, paving the way for a successful Selected Restricted Availability and a compressed post-availability training cycle.

Most recently, the ship completed a demanding two month EUCOM Pulse deployment, participating in the flagship Surface Combatant training event in Western Europe, the United Kingdom's Joint Warrior exercise series.

"I can think of no better way to prepare ships in general, and Klakring in particular, for its NATO deployment that the Joint Warrior event" noted Pollitt. "In addition to flexing every facet of the ship's Combat system, the exercise also tested human performance factors in a unique, dynamic, and unfamiliar operating environment. Success in this demanding training crucible assured me that Klakring is well postured for whatever may lie ahead."

Pollitt's next assignment will be on the staff of Commander, US Joint Forces Command (USJFCOM) in the Standing Joint Force Headquarters (SJFHQ). As Klakring once again prepares to deploy, the entire crew wish him, his wife Catherine, and their two children, Eleanor and Nathaniel fair winds and following seas as they too chart a new course on their naval journey.