CPRG/CPRGP Hosts Change of Command

Photo By William Dodge | 170608-N-GP524-0203 NORFOLK (June 8, 2017) The color guard parade the colors during the Patrol and Reconnaissance Group and Patrol and Reconnaissance Group Pacific change of command ceremony. Rear Adm. Trey Wheeler relieved Rear Adm. Kyle Cozad during a ceremony held at the Joint Forces Staff College aboard Naval Support Activity Hampton Roads. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Bill Dodge/Released)  

NORFOLK, VA, UNITED STATES

06.08.2017

Story by Petty Officer 2nd Class William Dodge 

Navy Public Affairs Support Element East - (Active)

NORFOLK, Va. (NNS) – Rear Adm. Trey Wheeler relieved Rear Adm. Kyle J. Cozad as the commander of Patrol and Reconnaissance Group and Commander, Patrol and Reconnaissance Group Pacific (CPRG/CPRGP) during a change of command ceremony June 8, at the Joint Force Staff College aboard Naval Support Activity Hampton Roads.
Wheeler previously served as Deputy Commander, Combined Joint Task Force-Horn of Africa. Cozad, who previously served as Commander, Joint Task Force-Guantanamo, assumed his duties as CPRG/CPRGP month 2015.
“Over the last 22-months, our people, the people of this command are what have enabled our success,” said Cozad. “They turn our technological capabilities into war fighting ability. The civilians, officers, enlisted and most importantly our families, really enable our success in every mission.”
Nearly 175 service members and guests gather to participate in the ceremony. Special guest VCNO Adm. Bill Moran was in attendance as well.
“Great teams need three qualities, they need to be well lead, create leaders from within and make their own luck,” said Moran. “When we look forward to the next ten years we are going to need that leadership. I couldn’t be more proud of where these two leaders are, where they have been and where they are going.”
Wheeler is a 1988 graduate of the United States Naval Academy, earning a Bachelor of Science in Oceanography. As a career Naval Flight Officer, he has completed six Maritime Patrol and Reconnaissance tours including commanding officer of VP-10 and commander, Patrol and Reconnaissance Wing ELEVEN. He served two tours of duty in Afghanistan. In addition, Wheeler served as communications officer and assistant chief of staff for administration/flag secretary for commander, Carrier Group ONE in San Diego and as the assistant chief of staff for operations/fleet operations officer for commander, 7th Fleet in Yokosuka, Japan.
Cozad is a 1985 graduate of the United States Naval Academy, earning a Bachelor of Science in Oceanography and Physics. He served extensively as an instructor pilot in multiple operational tours, completed two tours with Patrol Squadron (VP) 30, the P-3 Fleet Replacement Squadron (FRS), and another with 404 Squadron in Greenwood, Nova Scotia, where he was a CP-140 exchange instructor pilot with the Canadian Air Force. His operational Maritime Patrol and Reconnaissance Aircraft (MPRA) tours span across all four MPR sites.
CPRG aims to provide optimum and uniform training, readiness and effective command, control and coordination of 12 land-based, operational multi-mission capable patrol squadrons, two reserve patrol squadrons, one fleet replacement training squadron, one operational special projects unit, one special reconnaissance squadron, one unmanned patrol squadron and operational task unit commands.
For more information on COMMAND visit, http://www.public.navy.mil/airfor/cprg/Pages/default.aspx
For more information on USFF visit, http://www.public.navy.mil/usff/Pages/default.aspx

• Date Taken: 06.08.2017
• Date Posted: 06.12.2017 07:51
• Story ID: 237408
• Location: NORFOLK, VA, US