The Naval Facilities Engineering Command is getting a new leader. Rear Adm. Wayne G. "Greg" Shear, Jr., will become head of NAVFAC at a change of command ceremony scheduled for Oct. 27 at the Washington, D.C., Navy Yard.

SHEAR

Shear, who since 2004 has been deputy director of the Ashore Readiness Division in the Chief of Naval Operations office, will take over from Rear Adm. Michael K. Loose, who has been NAVFAC's commander since 2003.

The Defense Dept. announced Sept. 14 that Loose has been nominated to be a vice admiral and become deputy chief of naval operations for fleet readiness and logistics. It's believed that Loose would be the first NAVFAC leader to get a third star since Ben Moreell, the first head of the Seabees.

Before assuming his present position, Shear had been NAVFAC's deputy commander for operations. His long Navy career includes posts as commander of the 30th Naval Construction Regiment, in Pearl Harbor, and vice commander of the Third Naval Construction Brigade. Shear also was on temporary assignment as commander of the U.S. Support Group in East Timor, while he was with the Seabees.

He was graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy and commissioned an ensign in the Civil Engineering Corps in 1979.

Shear also has a master's degree in civil engineering from the University of Colorado and a master's degree in national security and strategic studies from the Naval War College.