VP-10 Holds Change of Command
On May 1, 2015, Commander Herbert E. Lacy relieved Commander James P. Johnston as Commanding Officer (CO) of Patrol Squadron TEN (VP-10) in Hangar 511 at Naval Air Station Jacksonville, becoming the 79th CO of VP-10.
The ceremony concluded an exceptionally accomplished tour for the departing CO, spanning from May 2014 through April 2015, which included a rigorous seven month deployment. The tri-site deployment saw operations in the U.S. FOURTH, FIFTH and SIXTH Fleet Areas of Responsibility, including more than 850 sorties and encompassing more than 6,000 flight hours.
The VP-10 “Red Lancers” returned from their final P-3C Orion deployment in February and began a squadron-wide transition to the P-8A Poseidon in March. VP-10 is the fifth squadron to start the six month transition to the P-8A Poseidon.
CDR Johnston said, “It is the Commanding Officer’s responsibility to understand our Navy’s vision and community direction. I did my best to understand this vision, set a course for us all, and empower each of you to not just complete the mission, but to do it well.”
“It has been said that life is not about the destination, it’s about the journey. As your journey of serving our Nation with Honor continues, we are grateful to have shared this moment together.”
Commander Johnston will be continuing his career in Commander, Naval Air Force, U.S. Pacific Fleet as an Executive Assistant. His wife Liz and their four children will accompany him.
Commander Lacy, a native of Lanham, Maryland and son of a Master Chief Petty Officer, will be assuming command of the Red Lancers after serving as the squadron’s Executive Officer (XO) since May 1, 2014. He graduated from United States Naval Academy with a Bachelor of Science degree in History in 1997. Completing flight training in July 1999, he earned his Wings of Gold and was designated a Naval Aviator.
Commander Lacy served flying tours with the “Mad Foxes” of VP-5 in Jacksonville, Florida where he qualified Mission Commander (MC) and Instructor Pilot (IP). While attached to VT-35 in Corpus Christi, Texas, he qualified as Strike Flight Pilot, providing multi-engine aviation training for student aviators. With VPU-1 in Jacksonville, Florida, he qualified MC and IP while conducting operations in support of Operation ENDURING FREEDOM.
CDR Lacy also served aboard USS ENTERPRISE (CVN-65) as the Operations Administration Officer, completing two Arabian Gulf Deployments and as the Air Warfare Directorate on the Chief of Naval Operations staff at the Pentagon.
He assumes the reigns of VP-10 as they are in the midst of an historic transition to one of the U.S. Navy’s newest and most capable aircraft.
“To all the Red Lancers, I am proud to be a part of this organization and I will give you my best every day,” said CDR Lacy. “All I ask is the same of you. You have earned my respect. For the next year, I will work to earn yours!”
The Red Lancers are scheduled to complete the six-month transition in September 2015 at which point they will begin a 12-month Inter-deployment Readiness Cycle to prepare for their first operational deployment as a P-8A squadron.
CDR Al Miller, native of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, has assumed the duties of VP-10’s XO.
By: LT A. J. Beres