Cmdr. Douglas E. Raineault relieved Cmdr. Christopher J. Carroll as USS Carney (DDG 64) commanding officer today, in front of special guests and limited crew at the Ocean Breeze Conference Center aboard Naval Station Mayport.
Carroll assumed command as the 17th Carney commanding officer in July, 2019. During his command, he led the crew through its Board of Inspection and Survey; the final Forward Deployed Naval Forces Europe patrol in the 6th and 5th Fleet’s areas of responsibility; a historic circumnavigation of Africa, and a homeport shift from Naval Station Rota, Spain to Naval Station Mayport, Fla., amidst a global pandemic.
The ceremony’s special guest, Capt. Michael Meyer, Surface Squadron 14 commodore, presented Carroll with the Meritorious Service Medal for his exceptional performance and dedication to duties as Carney commanding officer. Command Master Chief Jason Roeder presented Carroll with the ship’s commissioning pennant on behalf of the chief’s mess.
Addressing the Carney crew for the final time, Carroll praised the toughness and resiliency of his crew, emphasizing the spirit that makes “Carney Nation.”
“Five hundred and five feet of American fighting steel, you are a very special crew, on a very special ship, with camaraderie like no other destroyer in the fleet. You are the example of what strength and devotion to duty is to this great nation.”
In the time-honored tradition of a change of command ceremony, Raineault assumed command after completing a 16-month tour as Carney’s executive officer. He received his commission from the U.S. Naval Academy in 2003 with a degree in Ocean Engineering. He also holds a Master’s of Engineering in Engineering Management from Cornell University.
Previously, he completed a tour as the Navy Integration Lead at Missile Defense Agency Headquarters in Fort Belvoir, Va.
“I am both honored and humbled for the opportunity to take command of such a wonderful ship and crew,” Raineault said in addressing the crew.
The 13th Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer, Carney is homeported in Mayport and named after Adm. Robert Bostwick Carney. Adm. Carney was the 13th Chief of Naval Operations during the Eisenhower Administration. During World War II, he arranged with Japanese emissaries for the entry of the 3rd Fleet into Tokyo Bay, accepted the surrender of Yokosuka Naval Base, and attended the surrender ceremony held onboard Adm. Halsey's flagship, the battleship USS Missouri (BB-63). In his post naval career, he served as the Chairman of the Board, Bath Iron Works, Corporation.
Adm. Carney was highly decorated with the Navy Cross, the Distinguished Service Medal with three Gold Stars, the Legion of Merit with Combat "V", and the Bronze Star Medal with Combat