Photo By Jamie Coffey | Chief of Naval Air Training Rear Adm. Max G. McCoy Jr. addresses attendees during the...... read more read more
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Training Air Wing Five (TW-5) held a change of command ceremony aboard Naval Air Station Whiting Field, in which Col. Andrew Kellner relieved Capt. Kenneth Kerr as TW-5 commodore, Sept. 5.
Rear Adm. Max McCoy, Chief of Naval Air Training (CNATRA), presided over the event and presented Kerr with the Legion of Merit for his exceptionally meritorious conduct and leadership throughout his tour since 2023. Under his leadership, TW-5 safely executed 203,000 flight hours and 105,100 sorties, delivered over 1,100 primary complete flight students to the advanced training pipelines, and awarded over 750 wings of gold.
"Kerr’s unmatched dedication to pilot production and mission safety, while leading the Navy's largest primary flight training pipeline and executing the landmark TH-73A transition, was vital to Naval Air Training Command success," said McCoy. " He demonstrated exceptional command and foresight, keeping the throughput of next-generation aviators on track.”
A native of Pennsylvania, Kerr was commissioned in 1998 via the United States Naval Academy and designated an Unrestricted Naval Aviator in 2000. He previously commanded the HT-18 "Vigilant Eagles" at NAS Whiting Field, served as Air Boss onboard the USS Bonhomme Richard (LHD-6), and director of Aviation Commanding Officer Training (AVCOT) at Naval Aviation Schools Command.
"Commanding TW-5 has been a humbling and deeply rewarding experience,” said Kerr. “The dedication of our instructor pilots, our student aviators, and our staff is truly unmatched. We ask a lot of them, and they consistently deliver excellence, ensuring the fleet receives the highly skilled warriors it needs. I leave knowing this Wing will continue to set the standard for aviation training.”
Kellner was born in Camp Lejeune, North Carolina and grew up in North Carolina, Virginia, and Chile. He received his commission in 2000 upon graduating from Jacksonville University with a Bachelor of Arts in International Relations and was designated a Naval Aviator in 2002. He graduated from the Air Officer and AH-1 Weapons and Tactics Instructor courses and has two graduate degrees from Marine Corps University.
“Having served as the deputy commodore, I have seen firsthand the incredible dedication and professionalism that defines Training Air Wing FIVE,” said Kellner. “Taking command today is both an honor and a seamless transition. Our mission remains clear: to train the world’s finest fixed-wing, rotary and tilt-rotor aviators, and we will continue to build on the strong foundation and momentum we have established."
TW-5 is comprised of three primary fixed-wing and three advanced helicopter squadrons and trains aviators from the Navy, Marine Corps, Coast Guard, Air Force, ally and partner nations. The wing is responsible for an estimated 43 percent of CNATRA's total flight time and over 11 percent of Navy and Marine Corps' flight time world-wide. Over 1,200 personnel complete their essential flight training here annually.
| Date Taken: | 09.04.2026 |
| Date Posted: | 09.14.2026 11:15 |
| Story ID: | 574616 |
| Location: | MILTON, FLORIDA, US |
| Web Views: | 63 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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