Naval Weapons Station Earle boss retires, having made sure nothing went 'boom!'
COLTS NECK - Three years ago, when Capt. Edward L. Callahan assumed command of Naval Weapons Station Earle, there were very few in attendance to see it.
It was June 2020 and the world was in the grip of the COVID-19 pandemic. Fast forward to Friday and it was a totally different scene on the base's Memorial Avenue, where rows of state flags on tall poles adorn the street. Some 300 or more people came out to see Callahan off as the 40-year Navy-man ended his watch and Capt. Kent "Brewski" Smith took over command of the 11,000-acre base.
"An installation commanding officer is a tough job. At Naval Weapons Station Earle, the command under Ed Callahan has been rock solid," said Rear Adm. Christopher "Scotty" Gray, commander of the Navy's Mid-Atlantic region, one of the ceremony's speakers
Callahan handled over 21,000 tons of ordnance during his command, or "things that go boom!" Gray joked during a lighthearted moment of the ceremony.
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"If you don't do that right, really bad things can happen, and being that you didn't see Ed's face on the front page of the papers, he did it right," Gray said.
A decorated Navy man, Callahan enlisted in the Navy in 1983 and did his basic training in San Diego. After that he enlisted in submarine school in Groton, Connecticut, before embarking on a career that took him around the world including stops at Guam and Hawaii, and saw him climb the ladder to take command of Earle three years ago.
A man of "boundless enthusiasm," as his collogues described him, Callahan was whirlwind of activity not just in the base but out in the community where he "brought people together," said Thomas Arnone, director of the Monmouth County Board of Commissioners.
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Many community members shared memories, like the time he swore in the mayor of Middletown, or was the judge for student essay contests or stopped everything to find living quarters on the base for Marine veteran suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder.
"Ed made a profound impact on the submarine force and the Navy over his 40-year career. Look at all the people that came out today. Ed's attitude is truly infectious" said Rear Adm. Brian L. Davies, commander of the Navy's Submarine Group 2, and the ceremony's guest speaker.
Callahan's successor Smith is a native of Council Bluffs, Iowa. He attended basic flight training in Pensacola, Florida, where he earned his wings of gold as a naval flight officer in 2000. Like Callahan, Smith is a decorated Navy man whose career has had many stops, including conducting naval operations in the Arctic Circle in 2019 as part of Carrier Strike Force Eight. It was the first Navy mission to the circle in 30 years.
"The ceremony today and all the people that showed out is a testament to what Capt. Edward Callahan means to the people at this base and the surrounding community. I am incredible lucky to be following Capt. Callahan here," Smith said.
When Jersey Shore native Dan Radel is not reporting the news, you can find him in a college classroom where he is a history professor. Reach him @danielradelapp; 732-643-4072; dradel@gannettnj.com.
This article originally appeared on Asbury Park Press: Naval Weapons Station Earle NJ commander replaced by new captain
