JOINT BASE CHARLESTON, S.C. –
Captain Scott Heller became the fourth commanding officer of Space and Naval Warfare Systems Center Atlantic during a change of command ceremony held July 30, 2015 at the SSC Atlantic conference center.
During the ceremony Capt. Amy Burin, who has commanded SSC Atlantic since August 2013, retired with more than 31 years of naval service.
The assignment marks Heller's third return to the command, having been assigned to the center twice before in his naval career. As commanding officer Heller now leads SSC Atlantic's approximately 3,500 federal civil service employees, 120 military personnel and 9,000 industry partners located at the center's headquarters in Charleston, S.C., and at other sites in the Hampton Roads, Virginia; New Orleans, Louisiana; and Tampa, Florida; and overseas locations in Europe, the Middle East and Antarctica.
Rear Adm. David Lewis, commander of Space and Naval Warfare Systems Command, said, "Under Amy's leadership, SSC Atlantic delivered engineering, ongoing capability enhancements, and life cycle sustainment for approximately 50 career and manpower management and personnel and pay systems. Pretty important stuff that impacts more than 400,000 active duty and reserve personnel every day."
Heller comes to SSC Atlantic after serving at PEO C4I in San Diego, California, as Program Manager for the Battlespace Awareness and Information Operations Program Office (PMW 120). This will be Heller's third assignment at the center, having served a tour as executive officer and chief engineer from 2007 to 2009, and a tour from 1999 to 2001 during which he conducted Computer Network Vulnerability Assessments of all ships prior to deployment.
"I'm excited to be back at this incredible organization ... more like a kid in a candy store! The work we do daily preserves the peace and ensures we are ready when war arrives. We design, field, and sustain naval capabilities from the ocean floor, across all continents, to space and everywhere in between," Heller said.
Hanahan Mayor Dr. Minnie Newman was also a guest speaker for the ceremony.
"In the last few years, our area has seen some momentous economic developments, with major investments by Google, Boeing and Volvo ... but as you all know, for more than 20 years SPAWAR has been quietly and steadily creating a growth economy for high tech jobs in the community, in the region and in the state," Newman said.
Noting SSC Atlantic's business partnerships and community involvement, she added, "The SSC Atlantic team balances good citizenship and volunteerism with their vital mission of supporting our nation's warfighters."
Heller, a New Jersey native, received a Bachelor of Arts degree in Statistics from the University of Rochester in 1988, earning his commission through the Naval Reserve Officer Training Corps.