Delbert D. Black Holds Change of Command in Qatar

Guided-missile destroyer USS Delbert D. Black (DDG 119) welcomed a new commander during a change of command ceremony Oct. 5, while pierside in Mesaieed, Qatar.

Cmdr. Adam Stein relieved Cmdr. Mark Gallagher as commanding officer amid Delbert D. Black’s maiden deployment to the Middle East to help ensure maritime security and stability. Last week, the ship seized $10 million worth of hashish from a fishing vessel in the Gulf of Oman.

Gallagher assumed command of Delbert D. Black in May 2021, eight months after the destroyer was commissioned in Port Canaveral, Florida.

“This crew of Trailblazers has worked extremely hard over the past few years to bring this ship to life and ready to deploy ahead of schedule,” said Gallagher. “The dedication to service and professionalism of our crew and multinational partners continues to inspire me daily."

Gallagher is now slated to serve as the surface operations officer for Carrier Strike Group 10. His relief, Stein, assumes command after previously serving as Delbert D. Black’s executive officer.

“I get to pick up where Cmdr. Gallagher left off in leading and developing this incredible crew on one of our Navy’s greatest warships,” said Stein. “Following in the wake of our namesake, we aim to have the most empowered Sailors in the Navy who set the standard for the rest of the fleet.”

Delbert D. Black is an Arleigh Burke-Class destroyer named for the first Master Chief Petty Officer of the Navy (MCPON), the Navy’s most senior enlisted rank. MCPON Black is known for initiating the master chief program and ensuring enlisted leadership was represented Navywide.

The ship began operating in support of U.S. 5th Fleet this summer. The U.S. 5th Fleet area of operations encompasses approximately 2.5 million square miles of water area and includes the Arabian Gulf, Gulf of Oman, Red Sea, parts of the Indian Ocean and three critical choke points at the Strait of Hormuz, Suez Canal and Strait of Bab al-Mandeb.