U.S. Navy Rear Adm. Donna L. Crisp relinquished command of the Joint POW/MIA Accounting Command on Friday, Jan. 29, 10:00 a.m., Bldg. 45, during a ceremony officiated by Adm. Robert F. Willard, commander of U.S. Pacific Command. Army Maj. Gen. Stephen Tom, the former Chief of Staff for the U.S. Pacific Command, became the fourth Commander in JPAC's history. The ceremony marked the end of a 35-year career for Crisp, who received her commission in 1974 after graduating from California State University in 1971. Under Crisp’s leadership JPAC carried out more than 135 recovery and investigation missions, ultimately identifying approximately 170 missing Americans; an improvement by 35 percent over the previous 5-year averages. During her two-years as commander, the Central Identification Laboratory became the third Federal Laboratory to pass the International American Society of Crime Laboratory Assessment. Tom, a graduate of the University of Michigan with a Bachelor of Arts degree, was commissioned through the Army Reserve Officers’ Training Corps Program in 1971. He continued his civilian education by entering Boston University School of Law, and graduated with a Juris Doctor degree in 1974. In his civilian capacity, Maj. Gen. Tom was a private practice attorney and a partner in a law firm; he was recalled to active duty in January 2006.
Army Maj. Gen. Stephen Tom, the newest Commander of the Joint POW/MIA Accounting Command, speaks to his command for the first time at a change of command ceremony for the Joint POW/MIA Accounting Command at Hickam Air Force Base, Hawaii, Jan. 29. Tom relieved Navy Rear Adm. Donna Crisp to become the fourth Commander in JPAC’s history. The JPAC mission is to provide the fullest possible accounting of Americans missing as a result of our nation's past conflicts. (JPAC photo by Mr. Bill Dasher)
Navy Rear Adm. Donna Crisp salutes as she walks through a side boy detail at the Joint POW/MIA Accounting Command’s change of command ceremony Jan. 29 at Hickam Air Force Base, Hawaii. Under Crisp’s leadership, JPAC carried out more than 135 recovery and investigation missions, ultimately identifying approximately 170 missing Americans. The JPAC mission is to provide the fullest possible accounting of Americans missing as a result of our nation's past conflicts. (JPAC photo by Mr. Thiep Nguyen)
The former Joint POW/MIA Accounting Command Commander, Navy Rear Adm. Donna Crisp, shakes hands with Adm. Robert Willard, Commander of the U.S. Pacific Command, following a change of command ceremony at Hickam Air Force Base, Hawaii, Jan. 29. Army Maj. Gen. Stephen Tom relieved Crisp to become the fourth Commander in JPAC’s history. The JPAC mission is to provide the fullest possible accounting of Americans missing as a result of our nation's past conflicts. (JPAC photo by Mr. Thiep Nguyen)
Army Maj. Gen. Stephen Tom receives congratulatory handshakes following the Joint POW/MIA Accounting Command change of command at Hickam Air Force Base, Hawaii, Jan. 29. Tom, the former U.S. Pacific Command Chief of Staff, assumed leadership of JPAC in a ceremony officiated by the Commander, U.S. Pacific Command, Navy Adm. Robert Willard. The JPAC mission is to provide the fullest possible accounting of Americans missing as a result of our nation's past conflicts. (JPAC photo by Mr. Thiep Nguyen)
Navy Rear Adm. Donna Crisp gives her final speech as the Commander, Joint POW/MIA Accounting Command, during a change of command ceremony Jan 29. at Hickam Air Force Base, Hawaii. Crisp, who lead the organization for more than two years, facilitated more than 135 recovery and investigation missions, ultimately identifying approximately 170 missing Americans. The JPAC mission is to provide the fullest possible accounting of Americans missing as a result of our nation's past conflicts. (JPAC photo by Mr. Bill Dasher)
Navy Adm. Robert Willard, Commander of the U.S. Pacific Command, passes the Joint POW/MIA Accounting Command’s organizational flag to the incoming Commander, Army Maj. Gen. Stephen Tom, during a change of command ceremony Jan. 29 at Hickam Air Force Base, Hawaii. The ceremony, officiated by Willard, relinquished command from Navy Rear Adm. Donna Crisp to Army Maj. Gen. Stephen Tom. The JPAC mission is to provide the fullest possible accounting of Americans missing as a result of our nation's past conflicts. (JPAC photo by Mr. Thiep Nguyen)
A joint military side boy detail stands at attention as the U.S. national anthem is played during the Joint POW/MIA Accounting Command change of command Jan. 29 at Hickam Air Force Base, Hawaii. The ceremony, officiated by the U.S. Pacific Command Commander, Navy Adm. Robert Willard, relinquished command to Army Maj. Gen. Stephen Tom. The JPAC mission is to provide the fullest possible accounting of Americans missing as a result of our nation's past conflicts. (JPAC photo by Mr. Bill Dasher)