190111-N-JB192-002 SAN DIEGO (January 11, 2019) – Cmdr.

190111-N-JB192-002 SAN DIEGO (January 11, 2019) – Cmdr. Emily Cathey, a native of Statesville, North Carolina and commanding officer, USS Independence (LCS 2), gives a farewell speech as she prepares to relinquish command of Independence during a change of command ceremony aboard the ship. Cathey served as the ship’s commanding officer for 19 months and her leadership was instrumental in ensuring the ship successfully completed numerous certification events, testing of LCS mine warfare equipment, LCS tactics development and training for various LCS crews. LCS vessels are high-speed, agile, shallow draft, mission-focused surface combatants designed for operations in the littoral environment, yet fully capable of open ocean operations. (U.S. Navy photo by Boatswain's Mate 2nd Class Bryant Jay Austria/RELEASED)