From left, Capt. Eric L. Sweigard, Betsy Sweigard, Reenie Britt, and Capt. David F. Britt stand together after a change of command ceremony in which Sweigard relieved Britt as USS Vicksburg commanding officer. U.S. Navy Photo

Student Takes Reigns From The Teacher

By Ensign Don McCleary
USS Vicksburg PAO

When Capt. Eric L. Sweigard relieved Capt. David F. Britt as commanding officer of USS Vicksburg (CG-69) in Split, Croatia, it was no ordinary change of command.

The two first served together in USS Ticonderoga (CG-47) in 1984 when then-Lt. Sweigard was navigator and then-Lt. Britt was weapons officer.

Later in the tour, Sweigard worked for Britt for a brief period until Sweigard transferred to Naval Postgraduate School.

Following that assignment, Sweigard reported to Department Head School where Britt was his combat systems instructor.

It would seem that fate has destined the pair to cross paths during their naval careers. In 1991, Britt reported as executive officer in USS Thomas S. Gates (CG-51) where Sweigard served as his senior department head and combat systems officer for the next 15 months.

A decade later, Capt. Richard Hoffman, commanding officer of USS Hue City (CG-66), was the guest speaker in a ceremony marking the change of command.

By way of background, Sweigard's assignments at sea include a destroyer - USS Bigelow (DD-942) and four Aegis Cruisers; USS Ticonderoga (CG-47), USS Thomas S. Gates (CG-51), USS Hue City (CG-66), and USS Yorktown (CG-48).

Other assignments include staff of Commander, Second Fleet embarked in USS Mount Whitney (LCC-20), and the Strategic Plans and Policy Directorate (J-5) of the Joint Staff at the Pentagon.

Britt graduated in 1967 from Bishop McDevitt High School in suburban Philadelphia PA. He enlisted as a machinist mate in the Navy Nuclear Power Program.

Britt's first sea assignment was in USS Glennon (DD-840), Newport Rhode Island. He deployed to northern Europe in the second Standing Naval Force Atlantic.

Britt qualified as a submariner, nuclear mechanical operator, and chemistry and radiological controls technician in USS Tautog (SSN-639), Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. Selected for the deep submersible Submarine NR-1, he qualified as a Navy Deep-Sea diver enroute to New London, Conn.

In 1973, Britt was selected for the Navy Enlisted Science and Engineering Program (NESEP). He graduated in 1977 with a BSME from the University of New Mexico (UNM).

Britt qualified as a diving and salvage officer in 1978 and as a surface warfare officer in 1979. He served in USS Sierra (AD-18), Charleston, S.C. as diving officer, electrical officer, and assistant repair officer. He then split toured to USS Mississippi (CGN-40), Norfolk Va., as fire control officer.

Subsequent sea assignments in Norfolk include weapons control and combat systems officer in USS Ticonderoga (CG-47) May 1984-June 1987, executive officer in USS Thomas S. Gates (CG-51) April 1990-February 1992, and commanding officer in USS Kauffman (FFG-59) September 1994-September 1996.

He has deployed to the Western Pacific, Central and South America, Northern Europe, the Mediterranean, and the Red Sea for all of Desert Shield and Storm.

Ashore, Britt served as lead air warfare instructor at the surface warfare officer department head school in Newport R.I., July 1987-January 1990 where he was selected as Chief of Naval Education and Training, 1988 officer instructor of the year.

Later he served as director of the air and electronic warfare division at the Surface Warfare Development Group in Norfolk, Va., from Feb 1992-94.

Most recently, Britt served as Director of Navy/Marine Programs at Pacific Command's Joint US Military Affairs Group-Korea. He assumed command of USS Vicksburg in July 2000.

Britt served as the air defense commander for the John F. Kennedy Battle Group since taking command of Vicksburg.

Britt's next assignment is as Chief of Staff for Commander, Naval Surface Group Two (CNSG-2) in Mayport.