<strong>By Mindy Lucas</strong>

Naval Hospital Beaufort has a new commanding officer.

In a part-retirement, part-change-of-command ceremony held at the facility on May 29, Capt. Rob Jackson (below) was relieved of command as the hospital’s <a href="https://staging.yourislandnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/CAPT-Jackson-CO.jpeg"><img class="alignright  wp-image-44797" src="https://staging.yourislandnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/CAPT-Jackson-CO-819x1024.jpeg" alt="" width="497" height="621"></a>top officer by Capt. Raymond Batz (above).

Jackson was honored for his 34 years of distinguished service in the United States Navy and for his command at the medical center which started in January of 2018.

“Over the last 29 months, we’ve grown together and tackled every challenge that was placed in front of us,” he said in virtual speech addressing the center’s staff and medical professionals.

Under Jackson’s command the hospital transitioned to Navy Medicine Readiness and Training Command Beaufort. It also received numerous awards including two for health and wellness and two for retention excellence. It passed “every lab and radiology regulatory survey with flying colors,” Jackson said, and had three regional finalists for sailor of the year and had the command career counselor of the year.

“Achieving required goals are nice, but the thing I am most proud of during my time as your commanding officer is how much we’ve grown as a Navy family,” he said.

Jackson’s family was on hand for the ceremony which included such Navy traditions as the chiming of four bells, piping Jackson away and three cheers for the skipper.

Batz most recently served as deputy commanding officer at Tripler Army Medical Center, in Hawaii.

In addition, he previously served as senior physician onboard the combat support ship USS Supply (AOE-6) and served as a family physician with Joint Special Operations Task Force, in the Philippines.

He also served with the U.S. Marine Corps for five years supporting the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) and Joint Task Force in Guantanamo Bay.

A time-honored tradition, the change of command ceremony and event was led by Rear Adm. Anne M. Swap commander, Naval Medical Forces Atlantic, Senior Market Manager, Tidewater Multi-Service Market, and Rear Adm. Gary Mayes, commander, Navy Region Southeast.