San Diego

After serving as San Diego’s Naval Base commander for just over a year, Rear Adm. W. Ivan Lewis Jr. was relieved of his duties Monday in a change of command ceremony at the Spreckels Organ Pavilion in Balboa Park. Rear Adm. John W. Adams, 54, previously stationed at North Island’s Anti-Submarine Warfare station, takes over as Naval Base commander.

Lewis, 59, was also awarded his fifth Legion of Merit on by Adm. David E. Jeremiah, commander in chief of the U.S. Pacific Fleet, at the ceremony. Lewis officially retired Monday after serving 36 years in the Navy. He formerly served in Hawaii as logistics commander of the Pacific Fleet.

The primary responsibility of the Naval Base commander is to act as a liaison between the civilian and the naval community. The Naval Base commander is also responsible for the maritime defense of San Diego Harbor and is responsible for security on all of the naval bases in San Diego.