Navy sees change of command
The Namibian Navy welcomed its second commander on Friday.
Namibian Defence Force chief John Mutwa facilitated the first change of command for the Namibian Navy at the Captain PN Sacharia Naval Base in Walvis Bay on Friday.
Recently appointed defence ministry permanent secretary Rear Admiral Peter Vilho turned over command of the navy to the incoming commander, Rear Admiral Sinsy Bamba Nghipandua. Defence minister Penda Ya Ndakolo explained that such an event usually happens for a number of reasons.
“It could be due to the failure of the incumbent commander to perform to expectations or because of a new appointment with or without promotion and the latter is the reason why we are holding this change of command ceremony,” he said.
“The process of this change came into effect on 1 September 2017 when Rear Admiral Peter Vilho was promoted to the position of permanent secretary of the Ministry of Defence and at the same time Rear Admiral Sinsy Nghipandua was appointed as navy commander and promoted to that substantive rank. This ceremony therefore is a mark of the formalities of change of command as a military ritual.” Ya Ndakolo paid tribute to Vilho, who took command of the then Navy Maritime Wing as its commander following the death of Phestus Shanangula in 2002.
The minister thanked Vilho for his contribution to the development of the defence force and wished him success in his new appointment.
Ya Ndakolo said Vilho successfully carried out the development agenda of the Navy until the establishment of the naval headquarters and this led to the commissioning of the Namibian Navy into a full-fledged service of the Namibian Defence Force on October 2004. Ya Ndakolo described Nghipandua as a man with remarkable command experience, a renowned administrator, conflict manager and strategist.
“He performed his duties with zeal and diligence. I have no doubt that Rear Admiral Vilho is passing over the Navy command to an equally qualified and accomplished commander. All men and women should give him the necessary support and cooperation to take the Navy to greater heights.” Nghipandua became the first flag officer to command that formation as Commander Naval Operations at the establishment of the Naval Fleet in 2005. He was charged with establishing the fleet headquarters and force capabilities design, preparation and employment. He successfully localised all seamanship basic courses and was in the process of launching local specialisation courses for sailors. Under his direct supervision the Navy managed to document and project its training strategy, force design and level as well as its acquisition strategy. Nghipandua served in the defence intelligence in 1990 and was the first NDF officer to command at sea. He led an army operation which resulted in the capturing of five Spanish vessels that were plundering fish in Namibia's territorial waters.
He also spearheaded a successful counter-intelligence operation which curtailed the intentions of secessionists in the area of Rehoboth.
His first duty station in the Navy occurred at sea when he became the first offshore unit commander of the naval patrol vessel Oryx.
While on onshore duties Nghipandua was directly responsible for base construction activities between 2005 and 2009 as a base commander.
The navy employs a highly trained force of 500 sailors, most of whom were trained in South Africa and Brazil. Its firepower is supplemented by a Marine Corps unit which employs at least 200 marines who have been trained extensively in naval warfare by Brazilian tutors.
OTIS FINCK
Recently appointed defence ministry permanent secretary Rear Admiral Peter Vilho turned over command of the navy to the incoming commander, Rear Admiral Sinsy Bamba Nghipandua. Defence minister Penda Ya Ndakolo explained that such an event usually happens for a number of reasons.
“It could be due to the failure of the incumbent commander to perform to expectations or because of a new appointment with or without promotion and the latter is the reason why we are holding this change of command ceremony,” he said.
“The process of this change came into effect on 1 September 2017 when Rear Admiral Peter Vilho was promoted to the position of permanent secretary of the Ministry of Defence and at the same time Rear Admiral Sinsy Nghipandua was appointed as navy commander and promoted to that substantive rank. This ceremony therefore is a mark of the formalities of change of command as a military ritual.” Ya Ndakolo paid tribute to Vilho, who took command of the then Navy Maritime Wing as its commander following the death of Phestus Shanangula in 2002.
The minister thanked Vilho for his contribution to the development of the defence force and wished him success in his new appointment.
Ya Ndakolo said Vilho successfully carried out the development agenda of the Navy until the establishment of the naval headquarters and this led to the commissioning of the Namibian Navy into a full-fledged service of the Namibian Defence Force on October 2004. Ya Ndakolo described Nghipandua as a man with remarkable command experience, a renowned administrator, conflict manager and strategist.
“He performed his duties with zeal and diligence. I have no doubt that Rear Admiral Vilho is passing over the Navy command to an equally qualified and accomplished commander. All men and women should give him the necessary support and cooperation to take the Navy to greater heights.” Nghipandua became the first flag officer to command that formation as Commander Naval Operations at the establishment of the Naval Fleet in 2005. He was charged with establishing the fleet headquarters and force capabilities design, preparation and employment. He successfully localised all seamanship basic courses and was in the process of launching local specialisation courses for sailors. Under his direct supervision the Navy managed to document and project its training strategy, force design and level as well as its acquisition strategy. Nghipandua served in the defence intelligence in 1990 and was the first NDF officer to command at sea. He led an army operation which resulted in the capturing of five Spanish vessels that were plundering fish in Namibia's territorial waters.
He also spearheaded a successful counter-intelligence operation which curtailed the intentions of secessionists in the area of Rehoboth.
His first duty station in the Navy occurred at sea when he became the first offshore unit commander of the naval patrol vessel Oryx.
While on onshore duties Nghipandua was directly responsible for base construction activities between 2005 and 2009 as a base commander.
The navy employs a highly trained force of 500 sailors, most of whom were trained in South Africa and Brazil. Its firepower is supplemented by a Marine Corps unit which employs at least 200 marines who have been trained extensively in naval warfare by Brazilian tutors.
OTIS FINCK
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