In a ceremony complete with all the pomp and circumstance only the Navy can muster, leadership of Patrol and Reconnaissance Wing 10 on Whidbey Island Naval Air Station changed hands Friday, Aug. 14.
Capt. Peter Garvin was relieved by Capt. Steven Deal in a formal Change of Command before a large crowd in Hangar 6. Fellow officers, community leaders, special guests and family members were all present to watch Garvin pass the leadership baton to Deal for the 33rd time since Wing 10 was established in 1940.
Special guests for the ceremony made it clear Capt. Garvin is held in high esteem.
“We’re here to recognize the wonderful job Pete Garvin has done,” said Rear Adm. Sean Buck. “He led the VQ (Fleet Air Reconnaissance) community through a seamless transition to one squadron … and he kept the VP (Maritime Patrol) community on station, on time and on top during some of the most challenging times.”
“Wing 10 has performed superbly under the steady hand of Pete “Pedro” Garvin,” agreed Vice Adm. Allen Myers, keynote speaker for the Change of Command.
“But success doesn’t just happen. It takes hard work and the alignment of an entire team,” he continued. “You should be proud of everything this team has done.”
Myers said Garvin had made an impact not only on Wing 10 and NAS Whidbey, but on the entire Whidbey community. He also told the crowd he has every confidence in the leadership of Capt. Deal.
“I know you will continue Wing 10’s positive momentum,” he said.
“I have never met a more hard working officer,” Garvin said of Deal. “I look forward to hearing great things about you.”
Garvin also recalled hearing about Team Whidbey, telling audience members he was impressed by what he saw.
“They don’t just talk about teamwork here — they thrive on it,” he said. “It is an honor and privilege to be part of this team.”
“Pete, what a team for the ages you’ve built here,” Capt. Deal said after taking the helm. “If I have any success at all, it will be due to your stamina, leadership and vision.”
Deal is now responsible for about 2,300 personnel and 50 aircraft assigned to three Maritime Patrol squadrons, one Reserve Maritime Patrol squadron and one Fleet Air Reconnaissance squadron.
The Patrol and Reconnaissance community can begin to look forward to transitioning to a new aircraft. The P-8A Poseidon is scheduled to replace the P-3 Orion and the EP-3 Aries. A VP squadron at NAS Jacksonville, in Florida, is the first to transition to the new aircraft, which are scheduled to come to NAS Whidbey Island by 2017, provided there are no changes to the Navy’s decision of record.
During Garvin’s 18-month tenure, Wing 10 detached 57 combat and reconnaissance air crews to various forward-deployed locations around the world. More than 3,100 combat sorties were flown. Garvin’s next assignment is to a Federal Executive Fellowship on the Council on Foreign Relations in New York City.
“I depart knowing our Maritime force is well-led, from top to bottom,” he said.
