News Release: 7/14/2017 Change of Command & Retirement Capt. David Bryson
July 18, 2017
Naval Support Activity Mid-South Holds Change of Command Ceremony
From NSA Mid-South Public Affairs
MILLINGTON, Tenn. - Naval Support Activity Mid-South held a traditional change of command ceremony on July 14 at the NSA Mid-South Conference Center.
During the ceremony, Capt. Michael Wathen relieved Capt. David Bryson as the commanding officer of the installation.
Retired Rear Adm. Donald Quinn was be the guest speaker, and Rear Adm. Babette Boliver, commander, Navy Region Southeast, presided over the change of command.
"[Capt. Bryson] was always the voice of reason and calm under fire. The kid from Tullahoma was given great opportunities and he made the best of it." said retired Navy Rear Adm. Donald Quinn, the ceremony's guest speaker. "Capt. and Mrs. Wathen, welcome to Millington. You will find that the people in the Mid-South are second to none. Our military must continue to serve and our nation depends on you."
Serving as the commanding officer since July of 2015, Bryson worked to ensure the installation provided support to its 64 tenant commands, maintained emergency readiness for the Navy in the region, and executed effective resource management during an ever-changing fiscal environment.
"There have been a lot of challenges thrown at us. We not only tackled them, but we cleared them and raised the bar," he said. "I am proud of the hard work the NSA Mid-South team has done in the last two years to ensure we support our tenant command missions. Seeing the dedication to the Navy here in landlocked Tennessee has truly energized me!"
During his tenure, Bryson welcomed new tenants to the installation including the brand new Marine Corps Reserve Center and a new Navy Travel Processing Center, further diversifying the impact the installation has on the fleet and the security of the nation.
The event also served as a retirement ceremony for Bryson, after 26 years of naval service. An alumnus of the University of Mississippi, Bryson will continue supporting the Navy in his role at Canton High School in Mississippi as an instructor in the Navy Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps.
"As a Tullahoma, Tennessee, native, it was an honor to serve the Navy in my home state for my final tour," said Bryson. "While there are no ships or aircraft at NSA Mid-South, the work done here managing the Navy's most valuable asset-its people-makes a direct impact on the security of our nation and around the world."
Wathen, a native of Evansville, Indiana, is reporting to NSA Mid-South after a successful tour as the executive officer at the Naval Leadership & Ethics Center in Newport, Rhode Island. A 1992 graduate of the University of Oklahoma, Wathen was stationed on the USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN 72) during its historic nine-month deployment following Sept. 11.
Additionally, he has served forward deployed in support of operations Southern Watch, Iraqi Freedom, New Dawn, and Enduring Freedom.
"What an amazing honor it is to wear the title of commanding officer," said Wathen. "It is the rarest of opportunities, the change to command again and at a base no less."
Located in Millington, Tennessee, NSA Mid-South is the Navy's Human Resources Center of Excellence, home to the national headquarters of Navy Recruiting Command, Navy Personnel Command, Navy Bureau of Personnel, and the Navy Manpower and Analysis Center. Through these and other commands, the installation supports the administration of more than 350,000 Sailors from recruitment to retirement.
Additionally, the installation support Navy, Marine, and Army Reserve centers along with an Army National Guard unit. Also on board are the Army Corps of Engineers Finance and Logistics headquarters. The installation employs about 6,500 active and reserve military, federal civilians and contractors.
From NSA Mid-South Public Affairs
MILLINGTON, Tenn. - Naval Support Activity Mid-South held a traditional change of command ceremony on July 14 at the NSA Mid-South Conference Center.
During the ceremony, Capt. Michael Wathen relieved Capt. David Bryson as the commanding officer of the installation.
Retired Rear Adm. Donald Quinn was be the guest speaker, and Rear Adm. Babette Boliver, commander, Navy Region Southeast, presided over the change of command.
"[Capt. Bryson] was always the voice of reason and calm under fire. The kid from Tullahoma was given great opportunities and he made the best of it." said retired Navy Rear Adm. Donald Quinn, the ceremony's guest speaker. "Capt. and Mrs. Wathen, welcome to Millington. You will find that the people in the Mid-South are second to none. Our military must continue to serve and our nation depends on you."
Serving as the commanding officer since July of 2015, Bryson worked to ensure the installation provided support to its 64 tenant commands, maintained emergency readiness for the Navy in the region, and executed effective resource management during an ever-changing fiscal environment.
"There have been a lot of challenges thrown at us. We not only tackled them, but we cleared them and raised the bar," he said. "I am proud of the hard work the NSA Mid-South team has done in the last two years to ensure we support our tenant command missions. Seeing the dedication to the Navy here in landlocked Tennessee has truly energized me!"
During his tenure, Bryson welcomed new tenants to the installation including the brand new Marine Corps Reserve Center and a new Navy Travel Processing Center, further diversifying the impact the installation has on the fleet and the security of the nation.
The event also served as a retirement ceremony for Bryson, after 26 years of naval service. An alumnus of the University of Mississippi, Bryson will continue supporting the Navy in his role at Canton High School in Mississippi as an instructor in the Navy Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps.
"As a Tullahoma, Tennessee, native, it was an honor to serve the Navy in my home state for my final tour," said Bryson. "While there are no ships or aircraft at NSA Mid-South, the work done here managing the Navy's most valuable asset-its people-makes a direct impact on the security of our nation and around the world."
Wathen, a native of Evansville, Indiana, is reporting to NSA Mid-South after a successful tour as the executive officer at the Naval Leadership & Ethics Center in Newport, Rhode Island. A 1992 graduate of the University of Oklahoma, Wathen was stationed on the USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN 72) during its historic nine-month deployment following Sept. 11.
Additionally, he has served forward deployed in support of operations Southern Watch, Iraqi Freedom, New Dawn, and Enduring Freedom.
"What an amazing honor it is to wear the title of commanding officer," said Wathen. "It is the rarest of opportunities, the change to command again and at a base no less."
Located in Millington, Tennessee, NSA Mid-South is the Navy's Human Resources Center of Excellence, home to the national headquarters of Navy Recruiting Command, Navy Personnel Command, Navy Bureau of Personnel, and the Navy Manpower and Analysis Center. Through these and other commands, the installation supports the administration of more than 350,000 Sailors from recruitment to retirement.
Additionally, the installation support Navy, Marine, and Army Reserve centers along with an Army National Guard unit. Also on board are the Army Corps of Engineers Finance and Logistics headquarters. The installation employs about 6,500 active and reserve military, federal civilians and contractors.
