New Hand at Helm of Norfolk Naval

The Daily Press has reported that Capt. Richard Berkey will lead the Portsmouth, Va., yard as Capt. Joseph Campbell heads to the Pentagon. Navy Capt. Richard D. Berkey assumed command of Norfolk Naval Shipyard on Friday, taking the helm from Capt. Joseph F. Campbell. The nuclear-capable shipyard, based in Portsmouth, performs maintenance jobs on both aircraft carriers and submarines. With about 7,700 employees, it is the second-largest shipyard in Hampton Roads behind Northrop Grumman Newport News, and the oldest federal shipbuilding site anywhere. In a ceremony at the shipyard's Trophy Park, Berkey became the shipyard's 102nd commander since its inception as Gosport Navy Yard in 1767. He was assistant deputy commander for industrial operations at the Naval Sea Systems Command,which is in charge of Naval shipbuilding programs. Campbell, who led Norfolk Naval Shipyard since November of 2003, has been nominated to a Navy rear admiral post. He will go to the Pentagon to become the deputy director for fleet readiness under Chief of Naval Operations Admiral Michael G. Mullen. Campbell once worked in the Navy's supervisor of shipbuilding operation in Newport News, overseeing Newport News Shipbuilding's construction of the submarine USS Charlotte, as well as repairs on the USS Jefferson City and USS Atlanta submarines. Source: Daily Press