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First JB MDL Navy deputy retires, new deputy welcomed

  • Published
  • By Bill Addison
  • Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst Public Affairs
JOINT BASE MCGUIRE-DIX-LAKEHURST, N.J. --  Naval Support Activity Lakehurst Commander and Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst Deputy Commander Navy Capt. Andrew Butterfield relinquished command to Navy Capt. William Bulis June 21 here.

The change of command ceremony took place inside the Westfield Hangar, the home of the N.J. Army National Guard's 1/150th Helicopter Assault Battalion. Participants and attendees were flanked by UH-60 Blackhawk Helicopters which served as a fitting tribute to the outgoing commander who spent much of his naval career flying the U.S. Navy's version of the aircraft.

To highlight Butterfield's career and dedication to those he served with, Col. John Wood, JB MDL commander, told a story about Butterfield as a young lieutenant junior grade helicopter pilot stationed on the USS John F. Kennedy in 1988, when he was called to respond to a fire aboard the submarine USS Bonefish.

"There were 92 lives at stake that day," said Wood. "His crew goes out and, as they were searching for survivors to save their lives 150 miles off the coast, he sees them first."

Butterfield's aircraft was one of six helicopters involved in the three-hour rescue. "He saved 19 lives that day," said Wood. "He had the opportunity to save a life that day and he's done everything he can to train and make sure Sailors are ready to do the same."

Wood commended Butterfield for his dedication to service members during his career as well as his tenure at JB MDL while welcoming Bulis to the command.

"If you look back at the beginning and where he came from, it's an honor to stand on this stage with (Navy) Captain Butterfield and it will be an honor to serve with (Navy) Captain Bulis," he said.

Butterfield, who is retiring from active duty after 27 years of service, said he stayed in the Navy much longer than he initially intended.

"I stayed because of the people and the caliber of people who I worked with," said Butterfield. "We've worked together, lived together, breathed together we've enjoyed some laughs together - it's a special bond," he said.

As one of his final acts as a commissioned officer, Butterfield presided over the re-enlistment of Petty Officer 2nd Class Michael Rodriguez.

Butterfield served as the first commander of NSA Lakehurst since the stand-up of the joint base in October 2009. He was the 50th naval commander of the area once known as Navy Lakehurst. In this roll, Butterfield served first as deputy commander for the 87th Mission Support Group, and more recently as deputy commander of JB MDL.

Bulis thanked the Sailors and civilians of NSA Lakehurst for welcoming him and his family to the joint base.

"You guys have spent three years knocking the rough edges of this joint-basing process into a fine machine," he said "It is my honor to serve you as [commanding officer] as we go through this and again make it an even better machine."

A native of Long Island, N.Y., Bulis was commissioned in May 1990, upon graduation from the U.S. Naval Academy with a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering. He was designated a Naval Aviator in September, 1993.

Prior to his assignment here, Bulis served aboard the USS. Harry S. Truman as "Air Boss." In that role, he completed a successful combat deployment supporting Operations ENDURING FREEDOM and NEW DAWN, as well as overseeing the Truman's 15-month overhaul in Norfolk Naval Ship Yard in Virginia.