Naval Air Station North Island –
Carrier Strike Group (CSG) Fifteen held a change of command ceremony on board USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN 72) pierside at Naval Air Station North Island on May 25.
Rear Adm. William R. Daly of Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida, relieved Rear Adm. Joseph Cahill, of St. Albans, Vermont, to become the 77th commander since CSG-15’s establishment in 1930. Vice Adm. Michael Boyle, Commander, U.S. 3rd Fleet, presided over the ceremony.
During Cahill’s 11-months in command, he led CSG-15 during multiple integrated and advanced training exercises, focused on the mission of mentoring, training and assessing West Coast-based deploying carrier strike groups (CSGs), amphibious ready groups (ARGs), and independently-deploying warships. He also led a comprehensive scenario redesign that transformed the training focus for Pacific Fleet deployers, improving the operational and tactical skill sets to better align with fleet requirements.
In his remarks, Cahill lauded the performance of the CSG-15 staff.
“You are making a difference each day and it has been an honor to work with such an experienced and talented group of combat professionals,” said Cahill. “The work you have done, and continue to do, is ensuring our Navy and the entire joint force is more capable and ready to deter aggressive actions by our adversaries.”
“I know you will all continue to thrive under [Rear] Admiral Daly’s command and I look forward to seeing how you continue to innovate and drive the readiness of our deploying naval forces.”
Daly takes command of CSG-15 after serving as the Deputy Director, Policy, Plans, Strategy, Capabilities and Resources at U.S. European Command. A 1993 graduate from the U.S. Naval Academy, Daly has served in a variety of afloat and ashore billets as a surface warfare officer including chief of staff to the commander of Naval Surface Forces, commander of the famed Little Beavers of Destroyer Squadron 23, and commanding officer for USS Farragut (DDG 99).
“I am privileged and honored to command this team of teams of all-domain, warfare professionals,” said Daly. “Together, we will continue to improve on the fantastic work started under Joe’s command and ensure that fleet readiness continues to be at its highest for all our deploying forces.”
Carrier Strike Group 15’s mission is to direct, execute, mentor, and assess at-sea live synthetic and academic integrated and advanced training of carrier strike group (CSG), expeditionary strike group (ESG), amphibious ready group (ARG), surface action group commanders, staffs, warfare commanders, coordinators, surface independent deployers, allies, and other designated groups, enabling them to operate in integrated, joint, and coalition environments in the conduct of combatant and operational commander tasking.