CSG-4 Holds Change of Command Ceremony

Carrier Strike Group Four (CSG-4) held a change of command ceremony May 15th at the CSG-4 headquarters building aboard Naval Station Norfolk, Va.

Rear Adm. Max McCoy relieved Rear Adm. Jeffrey Czerewko as commander, CSG-4.

Czerewko served as CSG-4’s commander since July 2022 and will be assigned as commander of Naval Education and Training Command (NETC). As CSG-4 commander, he was responsible for leading CSG-4’s mission of mentoring, training and assessing East Coast-based deploying carrier strike groups (CSGs), amphibious ready groups (ARGs), and independently-deploying ships.

“It has been a privilege to serve with the outstanding professionals of Carrier Strike Group Four, setting and shaping the training standard for units deploying around the globe,” said Czerewko.  “I know that naval forces trained by CSG 4 are operating at the peak of their lethality and survivability and ready to protect the vital interests of the United States.”

Under Czerewko’s leadership, CSG-4 conducted two complex, integrated exercises to ensure readiness of deploying forces, including the Bataan Amphibious Ready Group / Marine Expeditionary Unit Exercise (ARGMEUEX) and the Gerald R. Ford Strike Group Composite Training Unit Exercise (COMPTUEX). During this timeframe, CSG-4 also incorporated new elements in exercises, including the introduction of the Root Cause Analysis Tool (RCAT). RCAT is a web-based application which enables enhanced data collection during assessment events by capturing and cataloguing causal factors that affect performance. RCAT has broader applicability for all organizations interested in capturing personnel, process and material causal factors, and tying them to both good and bad impacts. The output of RCAT will enable a data-informed feedback loop to various Navy systems in order to improve future prioritization and resourcing decisions to correct root causes. In addition, Czerewko also guided the integrated assessment of ARG/MEU teams during the Bataan ARGMEUEX, ensuring Navy/Marine Corps teams were trained jointly in a variety of key warfighting areas.

McCoy previously served as commander of the Naval Aviation Warfighting Development Center.  He commanded Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 86 and Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 2. Additionally, he served as the first commodore of the Joint Strike Fighter Wing at Naval Air Station Lemoore and chief of staff for Commander, Naval Air Forces.

“The CSG-4 team has built an outstanding legacy training deploying units to meet Fleet demands,” said McCoy. “I’m honored to lead this team of exceptional Sailors, Marines and civilians as they continue this critical mission to ensure warfighting readiness.”

CSG-4 trains and delivers combat–ready naval forces to U.S. 2nd Fleet (C2F) and U.S. Fleet Forces Command, which are capable of conducting full-spectrum integrated maritime, joint, and combined operations in support of U.S. national interests. CSG-4 conducts training through exercises that create a realistic training environment and includes academic, synthetic and live training. CSG-4 includes subordinate commands Expeditionary Warfare Training Group, Atlantic (EWTGLANT); Tactical Training Group, Atlantic (TACTRAGRULANT) and Training Support Vessel Squadron Four (TSVRON-4).