Ceremony to Mark Change in Command at Crane

Captain Mark Oesterreich (left) will succeed Captain Jeffrey Elder (right) in command of Naval Surface Warfare Center Crane.

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A new leader will officially take command Thursday at the Crane Naval Surface Warfare Center. Captain Mark Oesterreich will accept leadership from the retiring Captain Jeffrey Elder during a Change of Command ceremony. Elder is retiring after 28 years in the U.S. Navy, the last three as Crane commander.

Oesterreich has most recently been serving as assistant chief of staff for ship maintenance and material of Commander Naval Air Forces Pacific Fleet. He previously held the same position with Commander Naval Air Forces, Atlantic for a year starting in 2014.

Guests in attendance at Thursday’s ceremony are expected to include Lieutenant Governor Suzanne Crouch, Radius Indiana Board Chair Becky Skillman and Dahlgren, Virginia Aegis Ballistic Missile Defense Program Executive Rear Admiral Johnny Wolfe.

NSWC Crane is a naval laboratory that has approximately 3,200 civilian employees and is one of the largest employers in southwest Indiana. Officials say it contributes more than $2 million per day into the state’s economy.