Vitale to assume command

Vitale, a native of Vestal, N.Y., was commissioned an ensign after graduating from the Navy Reserve Officer Training Program at the University of Louisville in 1977. His first tour was aboard USS Reeves (CG 24) where he served as damage control assistant and fire control officer. During this tour, the ship conducted rescue operations off the coast of Vietnam and participated in the attempted rescue of U.S. hostages held in Iran.

Reporting to the Navy Recruiting District Indianapolis in January 1982, Vitale served as an officer recruiter and a trainer on the Navy Mobile Recruiting Team in Orlando.

After attending department head school in October 1984, Vitale was assigned as combat systems officer (CSO) on board USS Comte De Grasse (DDG 974) with a follow-on tour as CSO on board USS Bainbridge (CGN 25).

In December 1989, Vitale graduated from the Naval Postgraduate School with a Master of Arts in National

Rear Adm. Mark Boensel

Security Affairs (strategic planning). His follow-on assignment was as executive officer on board USS Yorktown (CG 48). In 1992, Vitale reported to the Joint Chiefs of Staff, serving as the directorate for plans and interoperability until July 1994, when he subsequently attended the National War College in Washington, D.C., earning a Master of Science in National Security Strategy.

His next tour took him on board USS John S. McCain (DDG 56) as commanding officer from April 1996 until December 1997. From January 1998 to August 1999, Vitale served as the director of the Command Training Department at Surface Warfare Officer's School in Newport, R.I. He then took command of Destroyer Squadron 24 at NS Mayport until March 2001.

After completing an assignment as the chief of staff for Carrier Group Four in Norfolk, Va., Vitale transferred to the Office of Legislative Affairs in Washington, D.C., as the director of Navy Senate Liaison in August 2003.

After being promoted to rear admiral, he assumed command of Navy Region Hawaii and Naval Surface Group, Middle Pacific.

Boensel assumed command of Navy Region Southeast in December 2005. During his tour, Boensel guided Navy Region Southeast through the Navy's regionalization process.

The addition of five installations and two regions brought Navy Region Southeast to 22 installations with a budget of more than $850 million. Under his leadership, major enterprises such as the Navy's public private venture housing came to fruition and a strong Lean Six Sigma process improvement program was initiated.

He will take over as commander, Navy Region Mid-Atlantic.

Navy Region Southeast manages and oversees shore installation management support and execution for each of its 22 installations in the eight southeastern states and parts of the Caribbean, specifically Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, and Roosevelt Roads, Puerto Rico.