The SA Naval College recently marked the conclusion of a 15-month tenure as Rear Admiral (Junior Grade) Judy Rustin-Patrick handed over command to Captain Moses Tabo during a Change of Command Parade held on Thursday, 5 March 2026.
The parade, held on the Naval College grounds, was attended by the Navy Command Council, Officers Commanding, masters and coxswains of various units, and distinguished local stakeholders. The ceremony served as both a reflection on R Adm (JG) Rustin-Patrick’s period of steady leadership and the commencement of a new era for the training of naval officers.
R Adm (JG) Rustin-Patrick’s career spans over three decades in the South African Navy (SAN), having joined in 1995. She served aboard SAS OUTENIQUA from 2000 to 2001 and held various Staff Officer positions from 2001 to 2016. She achieved a significant milestone in SAN transformation and leadership when she became the first female Officer Commanding SAS SIMONSBERG in 2016, a position she held until 2021. In 2024, she was appointed Officer Commanding of SA Naval College before her recent promotion to R Adm (JG) as Chief of Fleet Staff at Fleet Command Headquarters.
Captain (SAN) Moses Tabo brings extensive operational experience from postings aboard SAS AMATOLA, SAS ISANDLWANA and SAS SPIOENKOP. During his training in the SAN, he participated in an exchange programme aboard Buque Escuela Esmeralda in Chile, where he expanded his expertise in astronomical navigation. Later in his career, he completed the Senior Staff Course and earned a Postgraduate Diploma in Strategic Studies in Arusha, Tanzania. He also holds a Postgraduate Certificate in Strategic Sourcing and Supply Chain Management from the University of South Africa.
As the parade concluded, the symbolic transfer of authority reaffirmed the SAN’s commitment to continuity, operational excellence and the grooming of world-class officers, ensuring the future of the service remains in capable hands.
