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Bluetails Hold Change of Command

Navy NewsStand

Story Number: NNS100614-21
6/14/2010

By Lt. Patrick Collins, Carrier Airborne Early Warning Squadron 121 Public Affairs

USS DWIGHT D. EISENHOWER, At Sea (NNS) -- Carrier Airborne Early Warning Squadron (VAW) 121, the "Bluetails," conducted an airborne change of command ceremony June 13 in the skies above aircraft carrier USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN 69).

Cmdr. David Mundy relieved Cmdr. Joseph Finn as commanding officer during the fly-over conducted during overlapping Operation Enduring Freedom combat missions in Afghanistan.

"Cmdr. Finn went out as the skipper on the first flight, and I went out on the next flight," said Mundy. "As I returned from flying my mission, we passed each other en route and conducted the change of command over the radio. We reported to our senior officer, Capt. Kelley, making the change of command official under United States Navy regulations."

Mundy graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy in 1992 with a Bachelor of Science in general engineering. During his career, he has served both on the ground and in the air in Iraq as well as in the air over Afghanistan.

During a ceremony held the previous day in the ship's forecastle, Capt. Roy Kelley, commander, Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 7 congratulated Mundy on his new position as commanding officer and thanked Finn for his service and dedication during his time.

Finn, who took over as the Bluetails' commanding officer in April 2009, heads to back to Norfolk, Va., to serve as an evaluator with Commander, Strike Force Training Atlantic. He said he is proud to have been a part of the Bluetails.

"Being the commanding officer of a squadron is a tough job you train your entire career for and is over much too quickly," said Finn. "It is not about the person in charge, but about the journey that the unit takes together. Over the last 28 months, it has been my distinct honor and a privilege to serve with and lead the best Sailors in the fleet with the Bluetails of VAW 121."

Based out of Norfolk, Va., VAW 121 is part of CVW 7, and is embarked aboard Dwight D. Eisenhower deployed to the U.S. 5th Fleet Area of Responsibility in support of Operations Enduring Freedom and maritime security operations.

Currently on their second deployment in the last 16 months, the squadron is comprised of over 160 Sailors and aircrew. VAW 121 operates the Northrop Grumman E-2C Hawkeye which is designed as an airborne early warning command and control aircraft. The E-2C is capable of many different missions including fleet air defense, overland strike control, and surface warfare coordination. The Hawkeye is increasingly being employed as an airborne battlefield command and control asset where it serves as the critical node linking infantry on the ground to the close air support aircraft flying overhead. As a multi-role, flexible command aircraft, the E-2C is vital to today's Navy-Marine Corps combat team.