Posted on: Friday, January 10, 2003

New commander joining missile facility

By Jan TenBruggencate
Advertiser Kaua'i Bureau

BARKING SANDS, Kaua'i — Navy Capt. Robert J. Connelly will be sworn today in as commanding officer of the Pacific Missile Range Facility, replacing Capt. Donald H. Wilson, a Navy reservist who has headed the base since May.

Connelly, originally from New Jersey, is a 1976 graduate of the Naval Academy. He most recently served as commander of Amphibious Squadron THREE, in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. Earlier, he served as a squadron commander at the former Barbers Point Naval Air Station and as maritime aviation operations officer on the Pacific Fleet staff.

One of the key community issues for the missile range has been public access to its 7.5-mile beach, which has long been used for fishing, surfing, camping, picnicking and other activities. Access was closed after the Sept. 11 attacks.

Wilson last year arranged the partial reopening of the beaches, establishing an ID card system for residents seeking to use the shoreline. Certain beach areas are now open to those with proper identification during daylight hours on weekends and federal holidays. Wilson was not able to attain his goal of seven-days-a-week access.

Wilson also initiated a program to encourage Kaua'i Community College students to take up careers that might lead to high-tech jobs at the range.

Rear Adm. Robert T. Conway Jr., the Navy regional commander for Hawai'i, and commander of the Naval Surface Group, Middle Pacific, will deliver the keynote address at the change-of-command ceremony.

The missile range conducts fleet training as well as research, development, and test and evaluation work for the military. It is expected to play a major role starting in 2005 or 2006 in testing of the Army's Theater High Altitude Area Defense anti-ballistic missile program.

The range's 850 employees include about 100 active-duty Navy personnel, 100 Department of Defense civilians and 650 full-time contractor employees.