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| JPASE Senior Enlisted Advisor Army Sgt. Maj. Larry Lane, passes the JPASE organizational colors to Navy Capt. H.E. "Hal" Pittman during JPASE change-of-command ceremonies in Suffolk, Va., July 25. (Official photo by Fred J. Klinkenberger) |
Joint Public Affairs Support Element welcomes new commander
Navy Capt. Hal Pittman took over for Army Col. Stephen Campbell as commander of Joint Public Affairs Support Element recently in Suffolk, Va. at a change of command and retirement ceremony.
By Robert Pursell
USJFCOM Public Affairs
(SUFFOLK, Va. - Aug. 1, 2008) -- Navy Capt. Hal Pittman took over command of U.S. Joint Forces Command's (USJFCOM) Joint Public Affairs Support Element (JPASE) during a combination change of command and retirement ceremony here recently.
He replaces retiring commander Army Col. Stephen Campbell.
Campbell, who gave almost four years of service as JPASE's first commander, spoke about what his time there meant to him.
"I have had some terrific assignments along the way, both artillery and public affairs, but I could not think of a better way to cap off my career in the military," he said. "Commanding JPASE has truly been a privilege and an honor. Being the first JPASE commander and having the opportunity to mold this organization and leave behind a legacy is truly priceless."
A native of Columbus, Ga., Campbell began his Army career in September 1979 when he was commissioned as a second lieutenant upon graduation from the Officer's Candidate School.
Campbell retires after nearly 30 years of service. He spent more than half of those years in the public affairs field, including assignments as chief of public affairs for the U.S. Army Training and Doctrine Command and chief of command information division in the Office of the Army Chief of Public Affairs.
Campbell also recognized his family who was in attendance, along with those he's worked with who have made his job memorable. He wrapped up his speech by welcoming the new commander.
Pittman joined the Navy in 1983 as an enlisted journalist and earned his commission in 1985 from Navy Officer Candidate School as a supply officer, serving as assistant supply officer aboard the Pearl Harbor-based frigate USS Davidson, before being designated a public affairs officer.
Like Campbell, he has held a number of communication leadership roles, including special assistant for public affairs to Vice Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Navy Adm. Edmund P. Giambastiani and public affairs director at two combatant commands - U.S. Central Command from 2003 to 2005, and USJFCOM and Allied Command Transformation from 2005 to 2006.
Most recently, Pittman served as the Acting Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Joint Communication, where he was responsible for overseeing efforts to shape Department of Defense-wide communication doctrine, organization, and training for the joint force.
Pittman said it's clear that what was once a vision, JPASE is now a reality. He said that the unit has earned validation through deployments to places like Pakistan, Afghanistan and Cyprus, and to the numerous training evolutions and scenarios to prepare combat forces for war.
Pittman closed his speech by stressing the importance of JPASE in today's world.
"In the war of ideas that we face with extremists and terrorists around the globe, if communication is the weapon, then JPASE is the tip of the spear," he said. JPASE is our military's strategic communication strategic reserve - a one-of-a-kind unit comprised of the best of the best."
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