On Jan. 18, Rear. Adm. Tom Williams, Commander Expeditionary Strike Group Two (ESG-2), relieved Capt. Michael D. Nordeen, commanding officer of San Antonio-class amphibious transport dock USS Mesa Verde (LPD 19), due to loss of confidence in Nordeen's ability to command.
Nordeen assumed command of Mesa Verde in Aug. 2022 and will be temporarily reassigned to Commander, Naval Force Atlantic, in Norfolk, Virginia. Capt. Gregory Baker, ESG-2 Chief of Staff, will be assigned as commanding officer until a permanent relief is identified.
There is no impact to the command's mission or schedule due to the reliefs.
Mesa Verde is located at Naval Station Norfolk in Norfolk, Va. The command's mission is to transport and land Marines, their equipment and supplies, by embarked air cushion or conventional landing craft or expeditionary fighting vehicles, augmented by helicopters or vertical takeoff and landing aircraft. Mesa Verde supports amphibious, special operations, as well as expeditionary warfare missions.
