A new commander is taking over the Joint Region Marianas.

After two years of serving Guam, Rear Adm. Benjamin Nicholson is ending his time here. He is passing on the torch to Rear Adm. Gregory Huffman, who had arrived on island just a few days ago.

Huffman's ready to take on the helm as the new JRM commander, despite it being during the recovery of a devastating storm.

"I actually sort of embrace the challenge of getting the opportunity to build back the community build back our infrastructure and look to harden things look to work on the resilience that that has already begun thus far," he said. "So yeah, it's it's it will be a challenge, but I think I'm looking forward to it."

Nicholson is leaving in the midst of Mawar recovery, saying he arrived during the COVID-19 pandemic.

"But in between those two things, there was quite a bit that has happened," he said. "I have very much appreciated the ina'famaolek spirit and working together with the people of not only Guam, but CNMI, the Federated States of Micronesia and the Republic of Palau, really all the folks of Micronesia and advancing a number of different things over the last two year."

Huffman officially begins on June 21.

Rear Adm. Nicholson will be moving on to command the expeditionary strike group two in Norfolk, Virginia.