Vice Adm. Brad Collins took over as Commander of Navy Installations Command (CNIC), succeeding Vice Adm. Scott Gray during a change of command ceremony at the Washington Navy Yard on Sept. 24.
This marked the end of a three-year tour by Gray, who while in the role reorganized the Shore Enterprise and established CNIC as the Shore Type Commander. CNIC is responsible for worldwide U.S. Navy Shore installation management, designing and developing integrated solutions for sustainment and development of Navy shore infrastructure and quality of life programs. It oversees 10 Navy regions, 71 installations and 63,000 employees.
In a news release last week, the Navy said Gray modernized shore management through requirements-based budgeting and data analytics while leading the integration of over 10,700 billets across public works departments, defense fuel support points, and the Navy Petroleum Office. He also notably established Task Force Shore within the Pacific Fleet Maritime Operations Center and fortified “strategic posture worldwide from advancing the AUKUS partnership at NSA Stirling to executing major infrastructure investments in Guam, Spain, and homeports across the fleet,” the service said.
AUKUS is the trilateral framework between the U.S., Australia and the United Kingdom to supply nuclear-powered submarines and other nuclear information and technologies to Australia.
Gray is next headed to the Pentagon to serve as the Deputy Chief of Naval Operations for Navy Sustainment, leading a newly established office to integrate and synchronize capabilities. The Senate confirmed him for the latest position in July. Collins previously served as CNIC Chief of Staff and commander of Navy Region Northwest; Navy Region Europe, Africa, Central; and Navy Region Hawaii.
Exchange Monitor affiliate Defense Daily first published a version of this story.