Stephenville’s Vice Admiral Luke McCollum retires as Chief of Navy Reserve. Watch the ceremony.

The public is invited to watch the retirement ceremony of Vice Admiral Luke McCollum as he retires as Chief of Navy Reserve at 9:30 Eastern Standard time on Friday.

Here is the link: https://allhands.navy.mil/Live-Stream

ABOUT MCCOLLUM

Vice Adm. Luke McCollum is a native of Stephenville and son of a WWII veteran.

He is a 1983 graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy and is a designated surface warfare officer.

McCollum holds a Master of Science in Computer Systems Management from the University of Maryland, University College and is also a graduate of Capstone, the Armed Forces Staff College Advanced Joint Professional Military Education curriculum and the Royal Australian Naval Staff College in Sydney.

At sea, McCollum served on USS Blue Ridge (LCC 19), USS Kinkaid (DD 965) and USS Valley Forge (CG 50), with deployments to the Western Pacific, Indian Ocean, Arabian Gulf and operations off South America. Ashore, he served in the Pentagon as naval aide to the 23rd chief of naval operations (CNO).

In 1993 McCollum accepted a commission in the Navy Reserve where he has since served in support of Navy and joint forces worldwide. He has commanded reserve units with U.S. Fleet Forces Command, Military Sealift Command and Naval Coastal Warfare.

From 2008 to 2009, he commanded Maritime Expeditionary Squadron (MSRON) 1 and Combined Task Group 56.5 in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. He also served as the Navy Emergency Preparedness liaison officer (NEPLO) for the state of Arkansas.

He is the recipient of various personal decorations and campaign medals and has had the distinct honor of serving with shipmates and on teams who were awarded the Joint Meritorious Unit Award, the Navy Unit Commendation, the Meritorious Unit Award and the Navy “E” Ribbon.