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Carrier Air Wing Eight Holds Change of Command Ceremony

Navy News Service

Story Number: NNS101218-01
12/18/2010

By Senior Chief Mass Communication Specialist (SW) Misty Trent, USS George H.W. Bush Public Affairs

VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. (NNS) -- Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 8 held a change of command ceremony aboard Naval Air Station Oceana, Va., Dec. 17.

Capt. Jeffrey A. Davis relieved Capt. Patrick R. Cleary as CVW-8 commanding officer.

"It feels great to be here," Davis said. "The Navy does such a great job with the 'lead-follow' relationship from executive officer to commanding officer; deputy commander to air wing commander, with the grooming and leadership to provide continuity."

Davis previously served as CVW-8 deputy commander. He has completed more than 3,900 hours in carrier-based tactical aircraft, flown more than 200 combat missions, made more than 900 carrier arrested landings and earned the Navy's gold Parachute Jump Wings.

His professional accomplishments include recognition as the COMMATWINGLANT Intelligence Officer of the Year for two consecutive years, the Cooke-Connor Superior Leadership Award, and the Association of Naval Aviation, Tactical Aviator of the Year Award.

Davis is a graduate of Western Michigan University who received his commission through Officer Candidate School in 1986. He has made seven operational deployments during Operations Deny Flight in Bosnia, Southern Watch in Iraq, Deliberate Force in Bosnia-Herzegovina, Allied Force/Noble Anvil in Kosovo, Iraqi Freedom in Iraq and Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan.

Rear Adm. Nora Tyson, Commander, Carrier Strike Group (CCSG) Two, served as the event's guest speaker. Tyson said she looks forward to working with Davis and his team of professionals during the air wing's upcoming deployment aboard USS George H.W. Bush (CVN 77) in the spring of 2011.

"It's a phenomenal air wing with phenomenal leadership," Tyson said. "It's all about leadership, and it's all about the team."

Cleary, who assumed command in September 2009, had some words of advice for his successor.

"It's all about the people," Cleary said. "Take care of your people and they will take care of you."

CVW-8 consists of eight aircraft squadrons flying F/A-18A/C/E/F Hornets and Super Hornets, E2-C Hawkeyes, EA-18G Growlers, and MH60S/R Seahawks. More than 1,700 personnel are assigned to CVW-8, part of the George H.W. Bush Strike Group.