DVIDS – News – Patrol Squadron 9 changes commanders

DVIDS – News – Patrol Squadron 9 changes commanders.

Cmdr. Richard W. Prest, incoming commanding officer, Patrol Squadron 9, receives his Command-At-Sea pin from his wife during a change of command ceremony May 12 at Hangar 104. Prest will wear the badge during his term as commanding officer. Prest replaced Cmdr. David G. Whitehead, outgoing commanding officer, VP-9. (Photo courtesy of Mindy Clepper)

MARINE CORPS BASE HAWAII – Cmdr. Richard W. Prest relieved Cmdr. David G. Whitehead as commanding officer of Patrol Squadron 9 during a ceremony held in Hangar 104 here, May 12.

Whitehead departed after serving as commanding officer since May 2010.

Under his leadership, the squadron enjoyed a successful deployment to 5th and 7th Fleets, where they earned several accolades, including the 2010 Arnold Jay Isbell Trophy for Anti-Submarine Warfare Excellence, and the 2010 Retention Excellence Award.

His leadership was the catalyst for furthering fleet security cooperation efforts through the completion of fifteen detachments supporting key regional partners. Additionally, VP-9 supported prosecutions on a multitude of high priority sub-surface targets and participated in the establishment of expeditionary maritime patrol and reconnaissance operations at Sheik Isa Air Base, Bahrain. His leadership also played a vital role in continuing the squadron’s safety record of 188,000 mishap-free hours over 32 years.

He successfully led his aircrew and maintenance departments thorough numerous missions and detachments, enabling them to attain a 92 percent mission completion rate for over 500 sorties. Whitehead is slated to take up duties at the Bureau of Naval Personnel in Millington, Tennessee.

Prest assumed command of VP-9 after serving as squadron executive officer for the past year. He began his career upon graduation from the United States Naval Academy in 1992 with a Bachelor of Science degree in economics, and earned his “wings of gold” in April 1995 at Naval Air Station Corpus Christi, Texas.

Prest completed a tour at the Pentagon, serving in the J-3 Operations Directorate of the Joint Staff, before reporting to VP-9 as the squadron executive officer.

Cmdr. Craig Mattingly joined VP-9 as the squadron’s new executive officer. He arrived from a tour at the Naval Air Systems Command.