Taking over amid "uncertainty", new Mayport CO looking at growth

Looking back at his time leading Naval Station Mayport, Captain Doug Cochrane tells me he’s most proud of the growth shown by all the sailors on the base.

He says he’s proudest when he gets to pin a medal on a sailor’s chest, or see someone move up in the ranks.

“They know this is a difficult job, and they do a difficult job very, very well,” he says.

But he stop’s short of saying what his impact on Mayport has been, telling me instead that he’s just an “average guy”.

Something the incoming Commanding Officer disagrees with.

“He’s poured his blood and sweat and tears in to this command,” says Captain Wesley McCall of Cochrane.

McCall tells me Cochrane has laid a great foundation at Mayport, one that he is beyond excited to be taking over.  He joked that this is the worst time for Cochrane to, because Mayport is currently at a historic low in terms of the number of ships on base, but it’s the best time to take over because there are so many ships scheduled to come to Mayport. Inside of this year alone, the first of three ships in an Amphibious Ready Group and several patrol crafts are destined for the base.

McCall says it’s especially important to keep that in mind given the current fiscal uncertainty at the national level.  He acknowledges that there are a lot of uncertainties and moving parts right now, but says sailors just need to have faith.

“We’re gunna get this right, and eventually, it’s gunna pay off,” he says.

The formal change of command ceremony happens Friday at Mayport. Cochrane says he is heading to Washington DC to work at Navy Installation Command HQ overseeing the management and operation of 80 bases.