NAVAL STATION NORFOLK, Va. — The world's largest naval base has a new skipper.
Capt. Douglas Beaver took the helm the morning of Aug. 7 after serving 18 months as Naval Station Norfolk's executive officer. Beaver, an E2-C Hawkeye pilot by trade, assumed command from Capt. Robert Clark, who retired after 26 years of service.
Capt. Robert E. Clark, the outgoing skipper of Naval Station Norfolk, Va., was tested by a tragic fatal shooting at the base by a deranged trucker, who gained access due to security lapses.
Photo Credit: DoD
Clark's first tour was aboard the battleship Wisconsin, where he took charge of the 16-inch guns of Turret III in support of Desert Shield and Storm. A flag flown over the battleship was presented to Clark, whose service aboard five other ships included a nearly two-year command of the destroyer Mason.
Clark's tenure as Norfolk's skipper was quickly tested by an unauthorized breach of the base that ended with the March 24, 2014, shooting death of Master at Arms 2nd Class Mark Mayo. The base's security failed repeatedly to stop a disturbed trucker, who didn't have base access authority.
Rear Adm. Rick Williamson, The head of commander of Navy Region Mid-Atlantic, initiated disciplinary actions against six military and civilian security personnel in April and the Clark, the base CO, on April 1, 2015. Clark received an unspecified but "appropriate administrative measures," officials said. Clark was kept on as base CO since he'd been in charge only but Williamson told Navy Times when punishments were administered that he would keep Clark on station as skipper because he was onboard for "a very short period of time," Rear Adm. Rick Williamson, the Mid-Altantic Region boss, said at the time. "I don’t think that was enough time to effect change even though he had started some [changes]."
The admiral commended Clark for taking lead in the implementing ation of corrective actions recommended by investigators. Requests to speak with Williamson at Clark's retirement were denied.
Still, commendations were echoed throughout his retirement ceremony as Clark was honored for the selfless service exhibited in the shooting's aftermath. Though he would not address his role or the disciplinary action taken against him, Clark thanked was quick to commend all who were involved in the emergency response and subsequent changes to base operations. 
Beaver said the safety and security of those who work and live aboard the naval station will be "priority No. 1" during his watch.
"We learned some lessons from the tragic events of March 2014, but I have the utmost confidence in the security department and [changes] we put in place that we can maintain a safe environment here at Naval Station Norfolk," he said.
With raised fists and a jolly "whoo!" Clark handed his official Blackberry to Beaver, who used terms such as "excited," "honored," and "humbled" to describe the assignment to command the base to which he was first assigned in 1992, after graduating flight school.
"I can report my state is 'Tiger,' and I am ready," said Beaver, who was flanked by an E2-D Advanced Hawkeye from VAW-121 — the squadron with which he deployed aboard the carrier George Washington in support of operations Joint Endeavor and Southern Watch. He later commanded Carrier Airborne Early Warning Squadron VAW-123 during work-ups and a deployment aboard the carrier Enterprise. He has accumulated more than 2,900 flight hours in 10 aircraft types.
Beaver is now responsible for 60,000 people who work in more than 300 tenant commands that use 13 piers and 8,000 feet of runway. Just last week, the naval station added the newly commissioned attack sub John Warner to its cadre. The carrier Gerald R. Ford and Marine reservists flying the MV-22 Osprey will follow next year.
"From this moment forward, it is what we do together as a team that will determine our success," he told more than 300 in attendance.
