An Oak Grove native is now the commanding officer of amphibious transport dock USS Somerset, following a change of command ceremony in San Deigo, California recently.
According to a news release, Captain Michel Brandt relieved Caption Christopher Brown as commanding officer and addressed the crew of the Naval vessel for the first time, saying, “To the officers, Chiefs and crew of Somerset, thank you for making me feel welcome as the newest member of the team. My interactions with you this past week have left no doubt in my mind that our nation’s Navy is in the most capable hands.”
Hailing from Oak Grove, Captain Michel C. Brandt graduated from Vanderbilt University in 1998 and was commissioned through the NROTC program. She commanded Littoral Combat Ship Crew 102, embarked on USS Freedom and USS Fort Worth. She served as reactor officer aboard USS Theodore Roosevelt.