Capt. Matthew L. Bolls took command of Naval Supply Systems Command (NAVSUP) Fleet Logistics Center (FLC) Jacksonville on June 15 in a ceremony during which outgoing Commanding Officer Capt. James H. Strauss was awarded the Legion of Merit medal for exceptionally meritorious conduct.

NAVSUP Commander Rear Adm. Peter G. Stamatopoulos, the 49th chief of the Supply Corps, presided over the change of command, which was held onboard Naval Air Station Jacksonville in a hangar overlooking the flight line.

Stamatopoulos said that commands such as NAVSUP FLC Jacksonville have an important part in military readiness.

“It is our Fleet Logistics Centers that play the vital role in making our end-to-end supply chain more integrated, timely and affordable. And there is no doubt that we are in an era of competition, great-power competition,” Stamatopoulos said. “Our Navy urgently needs the NAVSUP enterprise to relentlessly work toward the objective of enabling more ready ships, ready submarines and mission-capable aircraft. And all of those platforms and communities operate extensively here in this AOR (area of responsibility).” 

Strauss’ command of the 700-person organization began in July 2021. During his tenure, he championed the Navy’s “Get Real Get Better” culture change, launching the conversation at all NAVSUP FLC Jacksonville sites and leading a critical examination of the material outfitting of new-construction ships under his purview. He also oversaw a project that transferred storage of military assets from private warehouses to Navy facilities, delivering a cost savings of $200,000 per year.

Strauss also led the command’s return to normalized work after emerging from COVID-19 restrictions and was part of the Navy’s response to Hurricane Ian in this region.

“To the team, I am truly humbled and honored to have been part of this prestigious, storied and strategic organization,” Strauss said. “For the last two years, you have continued to provide world-class logistics and supply support to our joint warfighters, to allied forces and to coalition partners across 4th Fleet, 5th Fleet, 6th Fleet and beyond.”

Strauss’ next assignment is chief of staff at NAVSUP headquarters in Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania.

Bolls assumes command of an organization with 17 sites across the Southeast and the Caribbean. NAVSUP FLC Jacksonville provides contracting, fuels and logistics support to units operating in the U.S. Naval Forces Southern Command/U.S. Fourth Fleet area of operations.

A career Navy supply officer, Bolls most recently served as aviation operations director at NAVSUP Weapon Systems Support in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He holds a bachelor’s degree in business management and a master’s of business administration in supply chain management.

His previous sea tours include serving aboard USS McFaul (DDG 74), USS Shiloh (CG 67), USS Chancellorsville (CG 62) and USS John C. Stennis (CVN 74) with multiple deployments to the Mediterranean, Persian Gulf and the Western Pacific, in addition to shore assignments in Washington, D.C., Philadelphia, San Diego, Pearl Harbor and Baghdad.

“To the Sailors, civilians and officers of Fleet Logistics Center Jacksonville, you don’t know me, but I know you,” Bolls said, explaining that his memories include pulling into Naval Station Mayport aboard McFaul and Stennis and enjoying the support of the supply community in the region. “You are exceptional at what you do.”

NAVSUP FLC Jacksonville is one of eight FLCs operating under NAVSUP. Headquartered in Mechanicsburg, NAVSUP employs a diverse, worldwide workforce of more than 22,500 military and civilian personnel. NAVSUP and the Navy Supply Corps conduct and enable supply chain, acquisition, operational logistics and Sailor and family care activities with our mission partners to generate readiness and sustain naval forces worldwide to prevent and decisively win wars. Learn more at www.navsup.navy.mil, www.facebook.com/navsup  and https://twitter.com/navsupsyscom.