A ceremony was held this morning at the Crane Naval Surface Warfare Center to welcome United States Marine Corps Colonel Alan M. Pratt as the new commanding officer. Pratt relieved Navy Captain Charles S. LaSota who is retiring after a 35-year career, 4 of which was spent as Crane's commanding officer.
Naval Sea Systems Commander Vice Admiral Kevin McCoy says the change of command is truly historic in bringing the Navy and Marine Corps together. Crane Naval Surface Warfare Center is a Naval laboratory and a field activity of Naval Sea Systems Command and is the 2nd largest employer in southwestern Indiana with a staff of almost 5,000 people.