VFA-115 changes command at sea

USS RONALD REAGAN, PACIFIC OCEAN

11.21.2015

Courtesy Story

Commander, Task Force 70 / Carrier Strike Group 5

By Lt. j.g. Steve Bachman, VFA-115 Public Affairs

USS RONALD REAGAN, Waters south of Japan - Cmdr. Doug Gray relieved Cmdr. Geoff Bowman as commanding officer of the "Eagles" of Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 115, Nov. 21 during an airborne change of command ceremony aboard the U.S. Navy's forward-deployed Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Ronald Reagan (CVN 76).

Bowman’s completion of his command tour is just one of many accomplishments during his career as a naval aviator spanning 19 years. Upon returning to the U.S. from his present duty station in Atsugi, Japan, Bowman will assume the duties as the Tactical Aircraft detailer for Navy commanders (O-5) at Navy Personnel Command, providing invaluable support to fleet tasking.

"It has been a truly humbling experience to work with the finest Sailors in the Navy,” said Bowman. “Their commitment to the mission is unwavering. We have asked a lot from them over the past 15 months, to include a trans-Pacific detachment to Fallon [Nevada] and a patrol that included three multinational exercises and a historic hull swap to the USS Ronald Reagan. The operational tempo has been intense, but this squadron continues to show an uncanny ability to support operations while still maintaining the finest aircraft in the fleet. I have no doubt they will continue that tradition for years to come.

"The Eagles have an incredibly bright future ahead with Cmdr. Gray at the helm. He is one of the finest leaders I know and, with his approach to leading Sailors combined with his vast experience in the Western Pacific, I know he will lead the squadron to unprecedented success."

Gray’s command tour is the latest in a long career as a naval aviator. He previously served with the “Golden Dragons” of VFA-192 before being selected for an instructor billet with the “Sharp Shooters” of VMFAT-101. Gray was then selected to become a landing signal officer with Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 1 prior to his department head tour also with VFA-115. He has more than 2,300 F/A-18 hours and 750 carrier landings.

"I am truly blessed and honored to have served with Cmdr. Bowman in the finest strike fighter squadron in the fleet," said Gray. "I am also humbled to be given the opportunity to continue working with the amazing men and women of the Eagles and Cmdr. Sam Gray. By operating together as a team and treating each other like family, the Talons will continue to succeed in the challenging forward deployed naval forces."

The Eagles are one of the eight squadrons of CVW-5 embarked on Ronald Reagan, which is currently on its 2015 patrol in the 7th Fleet area of operations providing a combat-ready force that protects the collective maritime interest of the U.S. and its partners and allies in the Indo-Asia-Pacific.

Since its founding in 1942, VFA-115 has left its mark flying in every U.S.-involved conflict in recent history - seeing combat at Okinawa and Leyte Gulf in World War II, Inchon and Chosin Reservoir in Korea, the Gulf of Tonkin in Vietnam, and Operations Desert Storm, Desert Shield, Southern Watch, Iraqi Freedom and Enduring Freedom. Today, the pilots of VFA-115 fly the advanced single-seat F/A-18E Super Hornet as part of forward deployed naval forces in Atsugi, Japan.

• Date Taken: 11.21.2015
• Date Posted: 11.21.2015 17:38
• Story ID: 182565
• Location: USS RONALD REAGAN, PACIFIC OCEAN