Meek, Deets assume their commands

VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. (WAVY) - New commanders assumed their roles at Joint Expeditionary Base Little Creek-Fort Story based Navy Cyber Forces (CYBERFOR) and Naval Network Warfare Command (NETWARCOM) during a change of command ceremony on Friday.

Rear Adm. Thomas P. Meek is now the CO of Navy Cyber Forces, and Rear Adm. Edward H. Deets III took the helm of Naval Network Warfare Command.

Both commands were previously under the direction of Vice Admiral H. Denby Starling II, who retired after 36 years of service on Friday at the same ceremony.

RADM Meek completed graduate school at Michigan State University in 1981 and was commissioned through Aviation Officer Candidate School in 1982. He has served as an intelligence officer aboard ship and ashore and is a graduate of the Naval War College and Joint Forces Staff College. He most recently served as the Director of the National Maritime Intelligence Center in Suitland, MD.

RADM Deets graduated from Duke University in 1979 where he was commissioned via the Naval Reserve Officer Training Corps. He has served in many positions ashore and afloat, and graduated with honors from the National War College in Washington, D.C. He most recently served as the Vice Commander, Naval Network Warfare Command.

"We must be able to fight and win in the digital domain, ensuring our unfettered freedom of maneuver on the new cyber sea lanes of the world," Deets said Friday.

A native of Virginia Beach, VADM Starling was commissioned through the University of Virginia NROTC program in 1974. A veteran Naval Aviator of the A-6 Intruder since 1983, Starling served as the executive officer aboard USS John C. Stennis (CVN-74) and commanded VA-145 aboard USS Ranger (CV-61) during Operation Desert Storm. He's also commanded aboard USS Shreveport (LPD-12), USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN-69) and Carrier Group Eight as George Washington Carrier Strike Group. Prior to taking over NETWARCOM, Starling served as the 26th Commander of Naval Air Force, U.S. Atlantic Fleet in Norfolk, Virginia.

Ashore, Starling served on the staff of Medium Attack Tactical Electronic Warfare Wing, Pacific, and as a student at the Naval War College. His first flag assignment was with NATO as the Assistant Chief of Staff, Operations, Intelligence and Exercises, for the Commander-in-Chief East Atlantic/Commander Allied Naval Forces Northern Europe.

"The days of lining up ships, airplanes, forces like we used to do those days are pretty much over," said Starling. "Any big fight we have today is going to start somewhere in cyberspace first. On the networks, it's going to be some non-kinetic attack..."

Starling assumed command of NETWARCOM on June 15, 2007, and was named commander of CYBERFOR upon its establishment on January 26, 2010.