Tactical Training Group Atlantic Leadership Changes Hands, Honors 37 Year Career
16 June 2025
NAVAL STATION NORFOLK – Capt. Aaron R. Kelley relieved Capt. James A. Quaresimo as commanding officer of Tactical Training Group Atlantic (TTGL) during a ceremony at Carrier Strike Group (CSG) 4, headquartered on Naval Station Norfolk, June 13. The ceremony also celebrated Quaresimo’s retirement and 37 year career in the Navy.
Rear Adm. Max McCoy, Commander of Carrier Strike Group 4, presided over the ceremony.
“Tactical Training Group Atlantic is a center for training excellence. Its mission matters more now than it ever has. TTGL prepares our ships, Amphibious Ready Group – Marine Expeditionary Unit teams, and Carrier Strike Groups to deter, defend, and if necessary, defeat the enemy,” said McCoy.
McCoy also commended Quaresimo for his leadership as part of the teams delivering relevant combat capability to the Navy, Marine Corps, and Joint Force team.
“As Commanding Officer, Jim implemented revolutionary improvements to Navy integrated training,” said McCoy. “TTGL adapted and moved with speed to address an ever-changing threat environment. Jim’s passion, commitment to mission, and mentorship enabled our ship captains, major commanders, and strike group commanders to be ready to lead warfighters into harm’s way.”
The change of command took place at the headquarters of CSG 4 within building N-23, a juxtaposition from the building’s original purpose. N-23 is listed on the National Register of Historic Places, and its exterior is part of the original Jamestown Tercentennial Exposition site of 1907. During the event, which saw President Theodore Roosevelt launch the Great White Fleet near Sewell’s Point, Secretary of the Navy Josephus Daniels authorized the purchase of the former Jamestown Exposition property in 1917, which is now Naval Station Norfolk, the world’s largest naval base. Carrier Strike Group 4 is the sole occupant of building N-23, leading training, mentorship, and assessment of carrier strike groups, amphibious ready groups, and independent deployers
Quaresimo is a native of Pennsylvania and a graduate of Jacksonville University and the U.S. Naval War College. His career was marked by a breadth of experience as both an enlisted Sailor and naval officer on multiple platforms with a focus on fleet training and operations.
In addition to command of TTGL, he previously commanded USS Chinook (PC 9), USS Squall (PC 7), USS Cole (DDG 67) and was the commissioning commanding officer of USS Fort Lauderdale (LPD 28).
Quaresimo started his career when he enlisted in the Navy as a damage controlman in 1988. His enlisted tours of duty include: USS Gallery (FFG 26), as an instructor at Fire Fighting Training Division, Recruit Training Command Great Lakes, and as the repair division leading chief petty officer aboard USS Mitscher (DDG 57).
Additional assignments ashore include: deputy assistant chief of staff for Training and Readiness, Commander, Naval Surface Force Atlantic; solutions analyst, Joint Forces Command; requirements officer, Joint Staff, J7, Joint and Coalition Warfighting; deputy assistant chief of staff for C5I, Commander, Naval Surface Force Atlantic; executive assistant to Commander Naval Surfaces Force Atlantic, branch head for maintenance and operations at the Office of the Chief of Naval Operations, Surface Warfare; and executive officer of Tactical Training Group Atlantic.
"Having the opportunity to lead Tactical Training Group Atlantic has been the privilege of a lifetime. There is no command better at preparing our fleet for combat operations,” said Quaresimo.
Quaresimo turned over lead of TTGL to Kelley, a career naval aviator and native of Orange Park, Fla. who commissioned through the U.S. Naval Academy.
“You are the right warfighter at the right time to take the helm at TTGL…You’ve been riding shotgun and equally accountable for both CSG 4 and TTGL’s recent successes,” said McCoy. “You and your staff are sprinting and leading. Be bold, move fast, and don’t look back.”
TTGL is the benchmark for fleet live, virtual and constructive (LVC) and synthetic training, and works closely with U.S. Fleet Forces Command at the Hefti Global LVC Operations Center.
Kelley’s unique career experience, commanding in both aviation and surface units, will support the continued training and development of integrated naval forces and the Navy’s approach to warfare commander training continuums.
“I’m both honored and humbled to take on this role. I am proud of our expert team, humbled by their experience and delighted to be here applauding their achievements under Jim’s vision and leadership,” said Kelley. “I am confident, in this era of persistent peer challengers and competition, that our team will continue to reimagine learning and the ways in which we train in order to meet the challenges of today’s operating environments. Because of this team’s dedication, I’m even more confident, we will be ready to fight and win if called to do so.”
TTGL's mission is to train, mentor, and assess Carrier Strike Group, Expeditionary Strike Group, Amphibious Ready Group and Marine Expeditionary Units, and their warfare commanders and staffs for global deployment against peer competitors. TTGL is a supporting command to CSG 4 alongside Expeditionary Warfare Training Group Atlantic (EWTGLANT).
The mission of Carrier Strike Group 4 is to train, mentor, and assess Carrier Strike Groups, Amphibious Ready Groups, and independent deployers for global combat against peer competitors. You can find them on LinkedIn, Facebook, and DVIDS.