Change of Command Ceremony at Seabee Base
An engineer battalion on board the Naval Construction Battalion Center in Gulfport will be receiving a new commander.
Captain David Stephens will be taking over for Captain Patrick Drury, who will head to a new assignment in Hawaii.
For Captain Patrick Drury, brotherhood is an important trait, something he developed at the Naval Construction Battalion Center in Gulfport. “Nothing we do in the military is ever an individual event, it is a team effort, even the individual tests that we do. It is all the team effort that is done before that that makes an organization successful.”
Originally from Virginia, Drury has spent the last year and a half at the Seabee Base commanding the 169th Engineer Battalion Center and now it is time for him to take the next step. “My family and I are heading to Hawaii, very excited about it. The kids love the beach and everything like that. So, we’ll be headed over there to work with the Army Corps of Engineers.”
This will be Drury’s sixth move since joining the military which can sometimes take a toll on families, but not his household. “My family is just superbly resilient. I’ve been very proud of them because we have moved quite a bit and it’s their adventure, too. It’s about staying strong as we move forward and hop around.”
Taking his place is Captain David Stephens, a Washington native who most recently served at Ford Leonard Wood, Missouri.
While Stephens hasn’t spent much time with Drury, it is evident to him that Drury left the battalion in great shape. “A stand-up guy, a true professional, and a great father, husband, a leader in the Army. He’s definitely set up the company and the engineer regiment for success here, but a great guy.”
Captain Stevens starts his role as commander immediately and it is fair to say he’s ready to go. “I’m happy to be here. I’m excited to be here. I’m ready to get after it.”
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