USS Wasp Commanding Officer Change | Virginia Beach 2026
- Santico Valenzuela as commanding officer of the amphibious assault ship USS Wasp (LHD 1) during a change of command ceremony held at Assault Craft Unit (ACU) 4 in...
- Bryan Carmichael, commodore, Commander, Naval Surface Group Middle Atlantic, spoke to Sailors during the ceremony, according to a DVIDS report.
- This change of command follows a previous one on January 15, 2025, where Capt.
VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. — Capt. Paul O’Brien was relieved by Capt. Santico Valenzuela as commanding officer of the amphibious assault ship USS Wasp (LHD 1) during a change of command ceremony held at Assault Craft Unit (ACU) 4 in Virginia Beach, Virginia, on April 2, 2026. The ceremony marked the end of Capt. O’Brien’s command and the beginning of Capt. Valenzuela’s leadership of the vessel.
Capt. Bryan Carmichael, commodore, Commander, Naval Surface Group Middle Atlantic, spoke to Sailors during the ceremony, according to a DVIDS report. The USS Wasp is currently conducting a selected restricted availability at BAE Systems Norfolk Ship Repair in preparation for its return to Naval Station Norfolk.
This change of command follows a previous one on January 15, 2025, where Capt. Chris Purcell, the 27th commanding officer of the USS Wasp, was relieved by Capt. Paul O’Brien. Purcell had assumed command in September 2023 and oversaw a successful seven-month deployment while operating in the 6th Fleet area of operations. He also directed the ship’s completion of a Composite Training Unit Exercise (COMPTUEX) prior to the deployment.
Purcell, a native of St. Louis, commissioned into the Navy in 2000 after graduating from the United States Naval Academy. Before taking command of the Wasp, he was assigned to Patrol Squadron 16 (VP-16). Following his departure from the Wasp, Purcell continued his naval career at Joint Staff J7, Hampton Roads.
“It’s certainly been a privilege to be a part of this crew for the past three years and an honor to serve as commanding officer of the #1 ship in the fleet,” Purcell said during the January 2025 ceremony.
Capt. Chris Purcell
Capt. O’Brien served as the Wasp’s executive officer starting in September 2023. His prior assignments included service aboard the USS Arthur Radford (DD 968), USS Princeton (CG 59), USS Antietam (CG 54), and USS Ramage (DDG 61).
The USS Wasp (LHD 1) is an amphibious assault ship of the Wasp class. These ships are designed to carry and deploy Marines and their equipment, and are capable of supporting a wide range of military operations.