Lt. Cmdr. Tia Myers Assumes Command of USS City of Bismarck

by

USS City of Bismarck Welcomes New Commander in Yokosuka Ceremony

The USS City of Bismarck, a key logistical asset for the U.S. Navy, welcomed a new commanding officer in a ceremony at Fleet Activities Yokosuka, Japan. Lt. Cmdr. Tia Myers took the helm from Lt. Cmdr. VanAnh McCormick, marking a transition for the hybrid crew of military and civilian mariners, according to a report from the Defense Visual Information Distribution Service (DVIDS).

Myers, a native of Columbia, South Carolina, assumed command during a ceremony that also symbolically unified the ship’s crew. “Starting with our turnover, we are no longer MILCREW II and CIVMARs; we are all USS City of Bismarck,” Myers said in her address. “It is all of our job to ‘keep the press!’ We have to be present and ready to engage while supporting each other to ensure our success. Crew I laid the foundation, and it is our job to build upon it.” She concluded with the ship’s motto, “Possumus Efficiemus: We can and we will accomplish.”

A Commander’s Proven Track Record

Myers brings a substantial record of naval service to her new role. Following her graduation from Francis Marion University with a bachelor’s degree in mathematics, she commissioned as a naval officer in 2014. She later earned an executive master’s degree in business administration from the Naval Postgraduate School. Her career includes significant sea tours aboard the USS Arleigh Burke (DDG 51), USS Pearl Harbor (LSD 52), and USS Harpers Ferry (LSD 49). Ashore, her duties included serving as an amphibious warfare tactics instructor at the Naval Surface and Mine Warfighting Development Center and Surface Advanced Warfighting School in San Diego.

Her predecessor, McCormick, led MILCREW I through its first-ever deployment for the Bismarck. Under her command, the crew sailed more than 4,000 nautical miles, visited four overseas ports, provided logistics support for the massive Exercise Keen Sword, and met all operational requirements. Her tenure was also marked by recognition, as the ship’s supply department became a finalist for the David M. Cook Food Service Excellence Award.

A naval analyst familiar with EPF operations said that a smooth transition of command on a vessel like the USS City of Bismarck is critical for maintaining operational continuity and readiness in the Indo-Pacific region. The analyst also noted that the hybrid crew model is a unique challenge, and Commander Myers’ emphasis on unity of purpose is the right approach.

The Strategic Value of the EPF Fleet

The USS City of Bismarck is the ninth ship in its class, the Expeditionary Fast Transport (EPF). These ships are uniquely designed for the challenges of modern naval warfare. Their shallow-draft, all-aluminum, commercial-based catamaran hulls allow them to operate in “littoral” or coastal waters where larger naval vessels cannot. With a top speed of 35 knots, a ship can transport 600 short tons of military cargo 1,200 nautical miles, a capability that is indispensable for rapid response.

Beyond pure logistics, the EPF’s design offers flexibility in austere or damaged ports. A vehicle offload ramp and flight deck for helicopter operations mean the ship can deliver supplies and personnel directly to a shore or forward operating base. This makes the Bismarck and its sister ships not just transport vessels, but key enablers for disaster relief and humanitarian assistance missions, as well as combat support.

The ship’s operational structure is as unique as its design. It is homeported in Yokosuka under the operational control of U.S. 7th Fleet but is operated by Military Sealift Command. The crew is a hybrid mix of active-duty sailors and civil service mariners. Two separate Military Crews (MILCREW I and II) rotate for deployments, with each crew based in San Diego. This rotational system ensures the ship can maintain a persistent presence in the Indo-Pacific without overburdening a single crew.

What This Means for Regional Security

So, why does a change of command on a single transport ship matter? For the tens of thousands of U.S. troops and their allies in the Indo-Pacific, the answer is simple: readiness and reliability. The USS City of Bismarck is a linchpin in the U.S. 7th Fleet’s ability to project power and sustain forces. It’s the difference between waiting for supplies in a congested port and having them delivered quickly and directly to where they are needed.

As the U.S. continues to focus on strategic competition in the Indo-Pacific, the capabilities of ships like the USS City of Bismarck become increasingly vital. They provide the logistical backbone that allows for a rapid, distributed, and resilient force. With a new commander at the helm and a crew unified in purpose, the ship is positioned to continue this critical work, embodying the motto “Possumus Efficiemus” not just as a slogan, but as a daily reality.

Worth a look

Read next