Maya Rincon, 2, clutched her new teddy bear close as she studied the officers and enlisted personnel garbed in dress whites for Friday's Change of Command Ceremony at the Navy Operational Support Center, Arsenal Island.

Like her, they were there to see her father, Lt. Commander Lionel Rincon Jr. sworn in as the center's new commander.

The ceremony got under way a few minutes later with bells chiming as Rincon, outgoing Commander Samuel Boit, and Commander Ward Zauner, entered the room. A color guard carried in the flags, the Star Spangled Banner was sung and a prayer said.

Zauner, the chief staff officer of the Navy Region Midwest, Reserve Component Command, told the audience that the new commander hails from El Paso, Texas, "a place where it snows rarely. Well, Lionel, things are about to change. I can guarantee that," Zauner joked.

The three officers processed in between two rows of "sideboys," a custom going back to the days when distinguished visitors climbed aboard or were lifted on board a ship via a boatswain's chair. According to Navy history, the sideboys make sure the visitor reaches the deck safely.

The sound of rain outside intensified as Rincon accepted his new responsibilities in front of an audience of military personnel, civilian dignitaries and guests. He began his naval career in 1987, following in his dad's footsteps as an enlisted man.

"That prompted me to join the Navy. I loved the water. Being from the desert, I wanted to see water," he said.

He attended basic training at the Naval Station Great Lakes and got his first experience with snow there. His career took him to as far away as Italy. Midway through he went through an Enlisted Commissioning Programs and became an officer with a bachelor's degree from Norfolk State University, Virginia.

His sea duty includes tours on the USS Gladiator and USS Tortuga and he holds a dual master's degree from Webster University, Missouri.

"It's a beautiful opportunity to be selected for a command and lead young sailors," Rincon said. "The challenge I would say is making sure all the ... reservists are ready to deploy when called upon."

He held Maya in one arm as his wife, Gabriela, pinned on his gold commander's pin. The emblem features a wreath circling Neptune's trident, an instrument that resembles a pitchfork.

"This has been a pretty hard-working tour," Boit said as he acknowledged his parents and brother who traveled to the Quad-Cities for the ceremony, his wife and children and all the support he received from the community.

He served as commander at the center since July 2007.

During his command, there were 45 mobilizations and additional challenges such as dealing with the June 2008 floods. His new assignment takes him to Norfolk, Va., as an operational support officer with the Fleet Forces Command.

"These sailors have gone forward and done the hard things to keep our country safe in the 21st century," he said. "Their honor and commitment can be summed up in one of my favorite quotes: 'A ship is safe in harbor, but that's not what ships are for. Our sailors understand the meaning of that full well.'"

The quote is attributed to 19th century theologian William Shedd, he said.