JOINT BASE CHARLESTON, S.C. –
Cmdr. Joseph Brisco assumed command of the Naval Consolidated Brig Charleston April 26 during a change of command ceremony aboard the decommissioned aircraft carrier USS Yorktown (CV-10). He relieved Cmdr. Ely Infante, who took command of NCBC in October of 2022 and retired following the ceremony after 25 years of service.
Rear Adm. Micheal Baze, commander of Navy Personnel Command, opened the ceremony by thanking NCBC’s staff and commenting on the Brig’s mission to combine discipline with training to reduce rates of recidivism and create successful members of society.
“I’m honored to be with ‘Baby J’ and Joe to see the passing of command, and also super honored to recognize some of the achievements of this command at Brig Charleston,” said Baze. “How we treat our prisoners is important because it says a lot about our values and our core beliefs.”
Baze also touched on the importance of changes of command and retirement ceremonies.
“Tradition is important, it reminds us of who we are as members of the military and it’s a way for us to connect with the past and talk about the future,” said Baze.
Infante took a moment to address the members of the command during the ceremony and express his thanks.
“I truly enjoyed my time at the Brig, and I’m looking forward to the next step,” said Infante. “I had a very talented group of civilians, Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen and Marines that I had the distinct privilege to work alongside. It was an honor to guide, support and lead them these past 18 months and they made it an absolute pleasure.”
Brisco will be the 24th commanding officer of NCBC and the second African American to assume command. He emphasized his devotion to the people he will serve with and his appreciation for their hard work in completing the brig’s mission.
“You’re looking at the happiest commanding officer in the Navy. I’m truly humbled and by the grace of God, I stand before you today,” said Brisco. “Here at Brig Charleston what we do is second to none, and I stand with you behind the wire. I will never stop advocating for you to have all the tools, resources and technology you need to do your job.”
The mission of Naval Consolidated Brig Charleston is to ensure the security, good order, discipline and safety of adjudged and pretrial prisoners; to retrain and restore the maximum number of personnel to honorable service; to prepare prisoners for their return to civilian life as productive citizens; and when directed, detain enemy combatants in accordance with guidance from the President via the Secretary of Defense.