CFB Halifax is officially under the command of a Nova Scotian.
Navy Capt. Sean Williams, born and raised in Bedford, took over as commander of the base at a ceremony Wednesday.
Rear-Admiral Brian Santarpia presided over the formal event, which included a smudging ceremony, a blessing by a military chaplain and music from the Stadacona Band woodwind ensemble, and the relinquishing of command by the outgoing commander, Navy Capt. David Mazur.
“I’m incredibly proud to be back in Halifax and to have assumed command of Canadian Forces Base Halifax,” Williams said in an emailed statement. “I look forward to working with the outstanding women and men that make up the base team, and to continue to foster strong relationships with our partners in the local community.”
Williams joined the Canadian Armed Forces in 1997, graduating from the Royal Military College with a degree in mechanical engineering. He served on HMCS Regina during the vessel's deployment to the Arabian Sea as part of Operation Apollo and later joined HMCS Ville de Quebec as marine systems engineering officer. He was on that vessel for missions in the Mediterranean and later off the east coast of Africa to support the World Food Programme.
At National Defence Headquarters, Williams has served in numerous roles, including auxiliary vessel class manager and fleet management senior staff officer, naval technical officer career manager, Canadian surface combatant senior supportability engineering manager, and most recently as executive assistant to the chief of the defence staff.
Williams continued his education, earning a master of engineering from the University of Ottawa and a master of defence studies from RMC.
He was promoted to his current rank and appointed commander of CFB Halifax this year.
Mazur, who hails from Kitchener, Ont., had held the position since 2018.
