SAN DIEGO – Rear Adm. Kevin Lenox was relieved by Rear Adm. Adan Cruz as commander of Carrier Strike Group (CSG) 3, during a change of command ceremony held onboard Naval Air Station North Island on May 8.
Lenox served as commander from September 2022 to May 2024. During his tenure, he led more than 8,000 sailors and Marines across four major commands, 12 ships, and nine embarked Air Wing squadrons, consisting of over 80 aircraft.
He successfully led the Abraham Lincoln Carrier Strike Group through a major planned incremental availability, warfare tactical training, and deployment workups with a specific focus on advanced warfighting readiness.
Under Lenox’s leadership, the Abraham Lincoln Carrier Strike Group drove innovative new initiatives ahead of deployment later this year.
Lenox successfully stood up the Navy’s first Flight IIA Destroyer as the Integrated Air and Missile Defense command, a role traditionally held by the Ticonderoga-class guided-missile cruiser.
Lenox, who will report to U.S. Cyber Command as the director of plans and policy for his next assignment, expressed his admiration for the sailors and Marines of CSG-3.
“It has been the privilege of a lifetime to command this strike group,” said Lenox. “It has been truly inspiring to watch these young sailors come out of the maintenance phase and integrate all of our new warfighting capabilities into their training. They are a formidable team, capable and confident. I can’t wait to see all the great things they will do while out on deployment, maintaining peace and stability in the maritime commons while always ready to fight and win if called upon.”
Prior to taking command of CSG-3, Cruz served as the deputy director of Politico-Military Affairs (Middle East/Africa) J-5 for the joint staff.
“I am honored to relieve Rear Adm. Lenox and take command of Carrier Strike Group Three,” said Cruz. “The sailors in this strike group are superb and it is a privilege to lead this team. I am grateful for Rear Adm. Lenox’s extraordinary leadership during his tenure and his successful efforts to prepare the strike group for operations at sea.”
CSG-3, the most technologically-capable Carrier Strike Group, provides a combat-ready force to protect and defend the collective maritime interests of the U.S. and its global allies and partners.
CSG-3 reports to U.S. 3rd Fleet, which operates naval forces in the Indo-Pacific in addition to providing realistic and relevant training across the full spectrum of military operations – from combat operations to humanitarian assistance and disaster relief.
U.S. 3rd Fleet works in close coordination with other numbered Fleets to provide commanders with capable, ready forces to deploy forward and win in day-to-day competition, in crisis and in conflict.
