“If can, can. If no can, then how can?”
That, said retired Rear Admiral Peter Gumataotao, was Capt. Vinnie Johnson’s motto during his three years as commander of the U.S. Navy Pacific Missile Range Facility at Barking Sands.
And it showed, Gumataotao said.
Johnson took that philosophy and molded it with the Hawaiian culture, living and working by the words pono, malama and ohana.
“I can feel the ohananess in this crowd,” Gumataotao said during Friday’s change of command ceremony at PMRF attended by about 300 people.
He had high praise for Johnson, as did many of the day’s speakers.
“Under Vinnie’s leadership, this awesome world-class range, I believe in my heart, is the place for the 21st century warfare to prepare for the complexities of a secure environment today and in the future,” Gumataotao said.
He said Johnson brought out the best in those around him and excelled at including Kauai’s community at PMRF, which was key to his success since he arrived in July 2016.
“Anything is possible with the support of the community,” Gumataotao said.
Capt. Timothy Young relieved Johnson during the nearly two-hour ceremony in a hangar on a sunny morning.
He thanked Johnson for passing “a well-lit torch” and leaving a legacy that will benefit future commanders.
“You left it better than when you found it,” Young said. “I’m committed to keeping the momentum going.”
He and his family are glad to be here and they are looking forward to a “grand adventure” over the next three years.
“It’s an absolute privilege to be joining this team, this community, this ohana, where everyone stands out at doing a hard job well,” Young said.
Rear Admiral Robert Chadwick, commander, Navy Region Hawaii, said he could tell the audience, with confidence, “the Navy’s choice in the officer to relieve Johnson was an inspired pick. Captain Timothy Young’s reputation precedes him. He is a proven leader in our Navy, in the air, on the ground, at home, in combat zones. He is the right man for the job.”
But the emotional ceremony centered on Johnson. Throughout, he was praised for his vision, his leadership and his inclusiveness, his ability to unite the military base with the island. He was
credited for his dedication to environmental stewardship.
Chadwick said Johnson built trust, bridges and relationships, and did so better than anyone.
“You knocked it out of the park, Vinnie,” he said.
Rep. Jimmy Tokioka recalled the first time he heard Johnson during a Memorial Day ceremony.
“His speech was so profound and so touching to me that somebody who is so new to Kauai could use Hawaii terms and words,” he said. “At that moment, I knew he was the right guy for the job.”
Mayor Derek S.K. Kawakami said Johnson embraced the Kauai lifestyle.
“It’s rare to have somebody come into Kauai and want to be a part of it instead of changing it to their liking and I tell you Capt. Johnson and his family have just been remarkable,” he said. “Their ability to acclimate to Kauai, and it’s not an easy thing, and to be able to get the community to rally around them is just something so special that we’re going to miss them.”
He said Johnson, his wife and two sons became part of Kauai’s ohana during their stay here, and always will be.
“We regard them as one of our own, our own brothers and sisters,” Kawakami said.
Johnson said he felt blessed to call Kauai home these last three years. He thanked his family, friends, colleagues and the community.
“I hope you feel that PMRF’s wins are your wins,” he said.
Johnson assumed command of PMRF in July 2016. He guided the command through numerous accomplishments supporting advanced technology development, national ballistic missile defense testing programs and numerous training operations. PMRF executed 27 ballistic missile defense flight test events and one multi-national live-fire training in 2018 during Exercise Rim of the Pacific during his tenure.
While appreciative of the praise, Johnson said, “Any credit I have received today is a direct reflection of the quality of the men and women at the Pacific Missile Range Facility and the amazing support we get from the people of Kauai and Ni‘ihau.”
PMRF is the world’s largest instrumented multi-environmental range capable of supported surface, subsurface, air, and space operations simultaneously. There are over 1,100 square miles of instrumented underwater range and over 42,000 square miles of controlled airspace.
Johnson, who finished his speech speaking in Hawaiian, said he was proud of the sailors for their service and dedication.
“We’re training our military and allies today so they can fight tonight if called,” he said.
“We test new equipment and weapons today so we are prepared to win tomorrow. Sons and daughters will return to their families,” he said.
Johnson’s next assignment will be an interim position in Washington, D.C., before becoming a naval attaché in Lisbon, Portugal.
He said he and his family aren’t saying goodbye, but aloha.
“I’ll always be an ambassador of Kauai and Ni‘ihau,” he said.
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Bill Buley, editor-in-chief, can be reached at 245-0457 or bbuley@thegardenisland.com.
