Military Ceremony
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EnglishVoice Age
Young Adult (18-35)Accents
North American (General) US African AmericanTranscript
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Good morning, distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen in attendance and the global defense media activity workforce joining us virtually on behalf of the defense media activity. Welcome to today's transfer of authority ceremony where the current acting director Colonel paul Havel stick where relinquished authority to the new acting director. Retired Rear Admiral Mr Hal Pittman. Today you will witness the passing of the organizational flag. This signifies the transfer of total responsibility, authority and accountability from one director to another. We are honored to have comments from Mr john Kirby the new pentagon press secretary who was virtually officiating today's ceremony. Ladies and gentlemen, please rise for our national anthem and the implication delivered by Chaplin said taylor. Okay. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Uh huh. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Mhm. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Ladies and gentlemen Chaplin said taylor. Let us pray Lord, we are grateful for the opportunities we have to serve our nation here at D. M. A. We are also fortunate for the leaders sent our way to provide quality management and direction. This morning as we transfer authority from one director to another, we ask your presence and continued blessings upon these leaders and our organization. We will miss the humor and the direct practical guidance provided by Colonel heuristic, sustain him and his family as they go forth to spread goodness elsewhere. Lord we welcome Mr Pittman and his family to our team. We've learned of his leadership experiences and look forward to his positive impact on our mission. Grant him the wisdom and strength needed to lead us. Well we pray Lord that you will sustain the DM A mission throughout the world in your holy name, we pray Amen. You may be seated, ladies and gentlemen, Mr Kirby, the assistant of the Secretary of Defense for Public affairs. Mhm. Well, hello there. Everybody at the defense media activity, john Kirby here. I just checked the board at the pentagon and I'm very sorry that I can't be with you today for this very important ceremony, this change of authority uh from Colonel Halver, stick to Mr Hal Pittman and I'll talk about both of them in in a minute. First, I want to thank you for what you do for this department. Indeed for the american people every single day you perform a vital mission, a vital function to this department. And I can't wait to get back up there to see all the things you've done over the last six years. It's been a while since I've had a chance to to dip my toe in the D. M. A River. But I'm looking forward to getting back up there as the secretary has said. And as I firmly believe communications with the public and with our own people, it's not just an opportunity to tell a story, although it is that it's an obligation we have to them and to the american people who fund us uh and who give us their sons and daughters. It's an obligation to let them know what we're doing with that taxpayer money and with their sons and daughters. So it's a very vital mission and as you know, probably better than me. A lot of conflicts today. They're driven just as much by the information environment as they are by the weapons and the systems that we employ in the field. So you are as far as I'm concerned on the front lines of what this department has to do every single day, which is to defend and to represent the american people. So thank you for that. I also want to thank you for the way you have reacted and responded to the pandemic. I know that many of you are working from home and that those who are not working from home have to take special precautions to do so safely so that you protect yourselves, your coworkers and your families. I know that's a burden we're feeling here at the pentagon and I just want you to know how much I appreciate the effort that you're putting into this. Uh, there is a lot of effort going on. You'll be hearing about it shortly that the department is doing to try to help the federal government and the american people get through this and when we are and we're all back together in our places of work. I think we're gonna look back on this as a trial certainly. But also a period where we've learned a lot about how to work in a new environment and how to do so flexibly mostly though. Thank you for enduring that. Thank you for taking it so seriously and for staying safe for you for your co workers again and for your your family's now. Today, as I said, is a very special day. This is a transfer of authority. These changes of command changes of authority. They're a big deal because it's an opportunity to recognize the leadership of the outgoing boss and welcome the leadership and the talent and the capabilities of the incoming. I haven't had the opportunity to get to know Colonel Halver stick but I have watched with great enthusiasm and pride as I've seen what he has done uh in his tour of duty there at D. M. A. As a matter of fact, I'll tell you just in a little bit, I've been back at the pentagon. It has been pleasantly shocking to see how D. M. A. Has changed since I left retired in 2015 and left the pentagon. And just over the last six years, it seems to me by all by all accounts to be in an almost completely different building a different capability, a different function. And I know that paul had a big role in that improving capabilities, uh advancing technology and structural changes there really marrying up the work of DMA with the national defense strategy, marrying it up to the national military strategy to what we're trying to do as a country. Uh And of course to using the platform at D. Emma to keep our troops and their families informed about not only what the department's doing every day out in the world, but about how they're handling the pandemic and what we need to do again to keep ourselves safe. He's been on the front line of that. He's an innovator and I know he's a good leader. I have heard more than, well, a lot of reports about his strong leadership capabilities in the way that he takes care of people, puts people first uh in advancing the mission of D. M. A. So so paul, uh although we don't know each other well, I just want to thank you for your service at D. M. A. Thank you for what you've accomplished and what you've done uh and the great foundation that you're laying for your successor, Hal pittman As for how I've known how for 25 years now. Um and I can tell you two things about him, he's the best communicator. I know, and I'm not just saying that because you know, he's there now and and we're gonna be working together. I'm excited about that. I'm saying it because it's true. Uh the second thing that I can say about help him is as somebody who had to come behind him several times in the Navy, we've known each other a long long time as young Lieutenants. Uh it's a it's it's hard, it's hard to come behind how and and fill his shoes, not that we're looking for him to go anywhere anytime soon. We're glad he's here and glad he's gonna stay. Uh and I know it's gonna be for the long haul, but the point I'm trying to make is how is a performer. Um and he knows how to get the best out of people, He knows how to get the best out of an institution. Uh and I know he's gonna hit the ground running uh and take that baton from, from paul and and just take it further on down the field. He is exactly what we need as we begin now, uh turning a new page here uh in the Defense Department and uh and what we need now in terms of the kinds of improvements on technology, cooperation, coordination with the services that I know how as a as a joint warrior himself is more than capable of doing. And we still have lots of troops out in the field in harm's way at sea and in the field, uh, we have a new administration coming in that's going to have a new strategy that we're gonna have to get ready to support. Uh and of course we have some domestic challenges right here at home. Uh and I think D Emma will continue to play a central role in communicating and articulating and frankly making sense out of the new policies that are undoubtedly coming coming down the pike. So you are still in the forefront. You are still the tip of the spear. And I know that how is very excited about leading you in that regard and picking up from the great progress that that paul has made. So again, uh to all of you A D. M. A. I apologize, I can't be there with you today as much as I'd like to. But again, thank you for what you're doing every single day to improve this department's mission and the mission of Public Affairs in particular, paul, thank you for your service, your leadership, the sacrifices that you and your family have made, not only throughout your career, but certainly uh during your time at D. M. A. Because I know it was a heavy lift and you've got a big big chunk of this department's mission in your hands and you've taken that on very seriously and how great to see a shipmate. I can't wait to see it in person. I'm really glad you're here and I'm very excited about working with you and I promise I won't get in your way, just like I tried to get out of your way when we were lieutenants. Um and uh anything I can do to support you, you know, I'm going to be here, thank you all again. Uh and congratulations on this. Terrific. Terrific day. Thank you. Thank you Mr Press Secretary Colonel Howard stick Mr Pittman, sorry, major parrish, please move to center stage. We will now proceed with the transfer of authority ceremony. This ceremony is a military tradition that is rich with symbolism and heritage dating back to medieval times. Soldiers often carry staffs and standards into battle that identified them as a unit throughout military history. Unit colors have marked the position of the commander on the battlefield in more recent times, the colors represent not only the heritage and history of a unit but also the unity and loyalty of all its members, both military and civilian. The colors are the director symbol of authority representing their responsibilities to the organization. The passing of the colors represents the transit authority and responsibility for the mission and welfare of the organization from one director to another. At this time, Sergeant Major parrish will advance the organizational colors. Yeah. The passing of the colors from Sergeant Major parrish to Colonel Halver Stick represents the last official act between defense media activity and the outgoing director. The passing of the colors from Colonel. However, stick to Mr Pittman signifies the transfer of authority or the responsibility of the organization's mission and welfare of its people. The passing of the colors from Mr Pittman to start Major parrish signifies the passing of his trust as the organization's senior enlisted advisor. Ladies and gentlemen, the former acting director of defense media activity. Colonel Paul have a stick. Good morning, good evening to everybody first. I'd like to thank the crew for setting us up and making this happen so we could talk to the team across the world. Uh I want to thank God for this opportunity, my family for supporting me, do another assignment. They provide the foundation allows me to focus on doing my best. So like famous curry for his words. They reflect a lot on what he sees in this team already and this is all due to your jobs and what you do and how you do it. You're a value added department offense. You've already made a good impression now it's full speed ahead. So the dev team saying farewell to you is one of the most difficult task I have been given since I got here. I have worked with many of you one time or another before I became the acting director. Uh even since I came in the Army broadcast service in 2006, you're more than colleagues to meet your family. We've had many laughs many debates, some of them heated. But I appreciate your internal fortitude to bring your best to get us to where we need to be bottom line is that we have worked together for one common goal keeping D. M. A. The essential communication asset for D. O. D. You have all inspired me with your creativity, your professionalism and your dedication. None more so than how we handle this as a team going through the pandemic. You have adjusted your modified, you adapted. But what we did not do is we did not impact mission and we took care of our people and that is all to your efforts to make sure we move forward together. I couldn't have asked for a better team and the support you've given me and help me us move ahead. D. M. A. Has been and is a great organization to work at. And the mission to inform our audience has never been more important than right now. I'm proud to support this mission, but I'm proud of that. I got to work with each and every one of you. I leave you in good hands. Hopefully you've had a chance to read Mr Pitman's biography. His background as a professional communication and dedicated service as a Navy Rear Admiral is inspiring and make him the perfect person to take on this job. You're in better hands now than you were yesterday. How? It's been a pleasure getting to know you, I know it's been short, this has been a quick transition, but I think you bring what takes it is needed to take this team to the next level. You're getting an amazing team. I'm confident that you'll be proud to lead them and to advocate for and promote the incredible work they do on a daily basis saying goodbye is never easy. I'm excited for the challenges ahead and I hope we cross paths again. Our professional lives are filled with people who come and go. It's the people we remember. Not the spreadsheets, not the meeting, not the computer glitches as I move over here, I hold each of you in my memory and grateful for all the time we spent together. I will miss you and thank you all. Yeah. Mhm. Yeah. Ladies and gentlemen, Mr Hal Pittman, the acting Director of Defense media activity will now present a token of appreciation to me. This have a stick. Yeah, mentorship in grateful appreciation. Defense media activity. Presents this certificate to Atlanta. Have a stick for the commitment and numerous contributions that made positive impacts to the nation's defense. Thank you for the support which gave strength and purpose to your spouse's service signed Sergeant Major Sean parrish, senior enlisted advisor and Mr Hal Pittman. Acting director backbone. All right, very nice. Mhm. It looks fantastic. Okay. Okay, ladies and gentlemen, Mr Hal Pittman, the acting Director of Defense media activity. Mhm. Thank you ship back. Okay. Got to pull out my reading glasses here. That's what happens when when you have a little bit of uh wear and tear on you Colonel, have a stick esteemed colleagues. Good afternoon. I'm honored to be standing shoulder to shoulder with you today for this change of authority ceremony at defense media activity and Mr Kirby, thank you for your kind words today paul. Thank you for your amazing leadership, the care that you've given to this team and just the thoughtful leadership that you've exercised here at defense media activity over the last two years. Well done. I'd be remiss if I didn't mention that my loving wife Rebecca uh, isn't here today with us, but she's been my inspiration for 30 years and I look forward to her being here shortly in future and uh being able to walk this road with me. I'm deeply humbled by the amazing mission, the professional people that make up defense media activity. D. M. A. Is a service provider for all 2.6 million active duty and reserve military members and D. O. D. Civilians. And we represent the defense public affairs community around the world. We create products and services for a D. O. D. Audience that we must view as followers, subscribers and customers. 38 years ago I left my home just about 25 miles up the road from here to begin an incredible journey after Navy boot camp, I found my steps myself on the steps of the Defense information School not here, but at Fort Benjamin Harrison indiana. After earning the quill and scroll of a Navy journalist and after a broadcasting tour in Asia, I was commissioned as a Navy supply officer and later redesignated as a public affairs officer in almost 30 years wearing the cloth of our nation. It was my great honor to serve our troops around the world, the last 10 of which were in the joint arena and I'd be remiss here if I didn't mention that one of my favorite assignments came after relieving then Lieutenant Commander john Kirby as the editorial director of all Hands magazine at the Old Naval Media Center. Our nation is fortunate to have mr Kirby serving again in a senior role that certainly suits his talents and I look forward to working with him today. I'm here across the street from den foes at the defense media activity, returning to this incredible community where it all started for me folks, it doesn't get any better than this. The significance of today is not lost on me and I am fired up, fired up about serving our military again and particularly our followers, subscribers and customers who are forward deployed and overseas fired up because our business of communicating changes every day, fired up because there's always something new to learn and the opportunities are endless and fired up because this is a world class global media and education organization with professional committed team members. I recognize that we operate in a hyper competitive market where social media and streaming services will eat our lunch if we don't change and keep up with the industry like any other global media organization. We are in an existential fight to retain audience share to be able to deliver our internal information products with impactful and measurable results. Service members options for information increase every day and we must stay ahead of the curve in this area to ensure that we are their first option. The next few years are crucial. We have an opportunity to increase and expand our partnerships in delivering internal news and information to our troops. But it will take commitment and action to build that level of effective collaboration. We also face the challenge of reduced resources in an organization where every penny counts. This means even as we seek efficiencies and combine and right size operations, we must continue to show our value to D. O. D. Leadership, Combatant commanders and service chiefs. We'll achieve this through our effectiveness in producing best in class content as judged by industry standards, expanding the reach of the public web program and training the next generation of military communicators. Even as we continue to be good stewards of the taxpayer dollars with all of this you can expect from me. Fair firm and consistent leadership. I will never ask you to do anything I wouldn't do or haven't already done. We will always treat each other with dignity and respect and we will put the needs of the Department of Defense and our customers first, they deserve it. Now people who know me will tell you that I have a bias towards action and indeed that's true. I'm a fan of the general George Patton model. That an average plan executed violently now is better than a perfect plan executed next week. We can always adjust fire as needed. The key to a growth mindset is having the right aptitude and attitude and we will be a learning organization for our people to reach their full potential leaders must be focused on developing team members personally and professionally understand that in a climate emphasizing learning and growth there may sometimes be mistakes, but great achievement doesn't come without risk and we will take that risk to become a brand that all military communicators will seek to be part of. Finally, we'll focus on building the military communications professional of the future through innovative training and education. The services and combatant commanders need world class communicators to always be first with the truth and the defense information school will deliver on that promise Now it takes intellectual capital to build intellectual capital and to that extent will push for the best officers and enlisted from the fleet and from the field to return to the schoolhouse to impart knowledge. Working together, we will continue to provide media products, services that reach our followers subscribers and customers through the channels they want when they want it and training that delivers top drawer professional communicators for military commanders. I look forward to working shoulder to shoulder with you in this great endeavor are magnificent. Troops deserve no less. Thank you. Why ladies and gentlemen, please rise for the playing of the service medley. Yeah. Right. Yeah. Right. Yeah. Mhm. Yeah. Oh. Mhm important. Mhm. Yeah. Mhm, finishing. Mhm. Yeah. Right. Mhm. Mhm. Yeah. Yeah. Mhm. Mhm. Yeah mama, Yeah. Mhm, mm hmm, mm hmm. And Mhm. Mhm. Yeah. Yeah. Mhm. Yeah. Mhm. Mhm. Yeah. Mhm. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Okay. Mhm. Yeah. Mhm. Yeah. All right. Mhm. Ladies and gentlemen, this concludes today's virtual ceremony. We'd like to thank everyone who has participated in today's ceremony. And those behind the scenes. You truly made this a special event. Thank you.