CTW-2 change of command

CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas - Commander Training Air Wing (CTW) 2 held a change of command ceremony June 21 onboard Naval Air Station Kingsville, Texas, where Capt. Brett “Ned” Lassen relieved Capt. Richard “Gash” Rivera as commodore. “I’m excited to get back to my roots within Naval Aviation,” Lassen said. He is a Naval Academy graduate and was commissioned in 1996. After graduation, Lassen reported to Naval Air Station Pensacola, Fla., for initial flight training and completed intermediate and advanced strike training with Training Squadron 21 in Corpus Christi, and earned his Wings of Gold in June 1998. VT-21 is a squadron under the leadership of CTW-2. He comes to the Texas base from duty as director of the Commander’s Action Group at Naval Forces Europe-Africa. Chief of Naval Air Training (CNATRA) Rear Adm. Gregory Harris served as the guest speaker for the change of command and presented Rivera, who retired after 25 years of service, with the Legion of Merit. CTW-2 is responsible for providing Strike and E-2/C-2 training to student naval aviators with the “Fighting Redhawks” of Training Squadron 21 and the “Golden Eagles” of Training Squadron 22. (Source: Chief of Naval Air Training 06/24/19) NAS Meridian, Miss., is home to CNATRA’s Training Air Wing One. Subordinate commands under CTW-1 are VT-7 and VT-9 squadrons.