One of Whidbey Island Naval Air Station’s Prowler squadrons will welcome a new commanding officer during a change of command ceremony later this week.
Navy Cmdr. Sterling Gilliam will take over Electronic Attack Squadron 129 on Friday, as outgoing commanding officer Capt. David Woods leaves the "Vikings" of VAQ-129 with orders to Naval Air Station Lemoore, Calif.
Woods will become commander of Carrier Air Wing 11, which deploys on the aircraft carrier USS Nimitz. He took command of VAQ-129 on March 7, 2002.
Gilliam’s last assignment was at Chief of Naval Operations, Washington, D.C., where he served as the requirements officer for the EA-6B Prowler and its potential replacement, the EA-18G. The Prowler is an electronic warfare aircraft used to jam enemy radar and communications. Gilliam was the resource sponsor for all EA-6B readiness, sustainment and follow-on platform programs.
VAQ-129 is the Fleet Readiness Squadron, and is responsible for training aircrews and maintenance personnel in EA-6B Prowler operations. The squadron has approximately 660 personnel, including staff and students. The squadron provides fleet-ready U.S. Navy, Marine Corps and Air Force Prowler aircrews and maintenance personnel to 10 carrier-based squadrons, four land-based Navy expeditionary squadrons and four Marine Corps squadrons.
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