On Aug. 17, Lt. Cmdr. Tim Mead relieved Lt. Cmdr. William Edenbeck as commanding officer of Transient Personnel Unit (TPU) Great Lakes in a ceremony at Naval Station Great Lakes (NSGL) Bldg. 190. Capt. Randy Lynch, NSGL commanding officer, presided over the ceremony.
    Lynch lauded Edenbeck as, “an excellent example of the kind of leadership we have in today’s Navy, and the kind we will continue to need as we navigate our way through these unpredictable times.”
    TPU’s mission is to expeditiously process sailors in the transient pipeline to service schools, fleet assignments or for separation. TPU also serves as a Navy Mobilization Processing Site (NMPS), a Regional Restricted Barracks, and Military Confinement Liaison.
    Under Edenbeck’s leadership, TPU received the Certified Pipeline Mover’s Award for 2012. Assessment personnel were so impressed with the command and programs that they presented the Pipeline Mover award on the spot last month.
    During the two years he led TPU, Edenbeck placed emphasis on continuing education for his sailors, which resulted in 16 qualified Journeyman Instructors and two sailors receiving degrees during the two years he led the organization. During Edenbeck’s watch, TPU took over the Military Corrections Liaison Office from NSGL, resulting in efficient alignment of manpower and the flawless accounting of 18 prisoners.
    Edenbeck thanked his family, including his wife Shelley who he met while stationed at Great Lakes as a recruit division commander. He also thanked Training Support Center Great Lakes leadership for their “great working relationship,” Lynch for being “a patient, consistent and intelligent leader,” his executive officer, CWO4 Michael Miner, who was promoted the same day as the change of command to CWO4; and CMDCM (AW/SW) David Steo, his command master chief. To his sailors, Edenbeck said, “My job satisfaction came not from what I did, but by watching you achieve success.”