WASHINGTON –
Vice Adm. Nancy Lacore relieved Vice Adm. John B. Mustin as Chief of Navy Reserve and Commander, Navy Reserve Force, during a change of command ceremony at the Washington Navy Yard, Aug. 23.
Lacore, the 16th Chief of Navy Reserve, is a native of Albany, New York, and a graduate of the College of the Holy Cross, where she earned a Bachelor of Arts and her commission from the Reserve Officer Training Corps program. She earned a Master of Arts from San Diego State University and is a graduate of the Air Command and Staff College and the National Defense University at the Joint Forces Staff College. She was designated a Naval Aviator in 1993.
Chief of Naval Operations Admiral Lisa Franchetti delivered keynote remarks at the ceremony, which also included a flyover by Fighter Squadron Composite Twelve (VFC-12), Naval Air Station (NAS) Oceana, Va.
“Today is a Great Navy Day,” said Franchetti from under a bright blue sunlit sky, “We bear witness to a time-honored tradition where we transfer the authority and responsibility of the office of Chief of Navy Reserve from one officer to the next. It is a significant event for this command, our Navy, for the Joint Force and especially for John Mustin, Nancy Lacore and their families.”
Mustin, a native of Alexandria, Virginia, became the 15th Chief of Navy Reserve in 2020 at the height of the global COVID-19 Pandemic. Upon accepting the responsibility as CNR, Mustin implemented a strategic plan to innovate and modernize communication in the Reserve component to increase operational readiness and improve organizational flexibility.
During his four-year tour as CNR, Mustin oversaw communication innovations such as Forceconnect, Flankspeed, Nautilus Virtual Desktop, Wi-Fi upgrades at 147 Navy Reserve sites and the implementation of the i3 Waypoints program to spur creative solutions from within the ranks of the Reserve Force.
Mustin said he was honored to lead Sailors through historic challenges during his four-year command and praised their unceasing dedication to mission accomplishment.
“The dedication of our citizen Sailors, civilians and their supportive families has been a gratifying source of daily inspiration,” said Mustin. “Commanding, representing, and advocating for the Navy Reserve has been the honor of a lifetime.
Mustin, who received the Distinguished Service Medal and retired from 30 years of military service during the ceremony, described Lacore as well-suited to lead and prepare the Navy Reserve though the challenges of the next several years.
“Nancy, you are the right person, at the right time, in the right place,” said Mustin. “The long blue line has never failed us, and your Sailors are poised to bring your vision to life.”
Mustin’s 2020 and 2022 Navy Reserve Fighting Instructions served as an action plan for transforming the Navy Reserve, outlining four lines of effort to Design, Train, Mobilize and Develop the Reserve Force. Mustin also laid the framework for a ten-year plan for the Reserve Force via the release of Battle Orders 2032.
Upon taking command as the 16th Chief of Navy Reserve, Lacore said she will continue to follow the innovative course set by Mustin, while focusing on making specific improvements in the culture of the Reserve Force.
“Retention is driven by culture,” said Lacore. “The better our culture, the more Sailors we’ll retain. Each of us has a role in shaping and sustaining the culture of the Navy Reserve. We can affect some change with policy, but the most impactful way to shape a Sailor’s experience is with hands-on, Sailor-focused leadership at the unit level.”
The Ready Reserve Force consists of over 105,000 members and is composed of Full-Time Support, Selected Reserve and Individual Ready Reserve Sailors. Lacore specifically identified trust as a key organizational focal point in the development of every Reserve Sailor; Trust between people, trust in the organization and a steadfast reliance on the processes and resources which help them achieve mission success.
“We have work to do, and that work starts now,” said Lacore. “When the call comes, we’ll need the capability to activate 50,000 Reservists within 30 days. We cannot afford to wait for that call to build trust; we must establish it now.”
The mission of the Navy Reserve is to provide strategic depth and deliver operational capabilities to the Navy and Marine Corps team and joint forces. Navy Reserve Sailors seamlessly support and actively aid that mission, all while continuing to lead their own independent lives in the civilian world.
For the latest news and updates across the Reserve Force, visit the official Navy Reserve website https://www.navyreserve.navy.mil/ and follow the U.S. Navy Reserve on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and LinkedIn.