ABOARD CARRIER GEORGE WASHINGTON AT NAVAL STATION NORFOLK, Va. — At a Friday ceremony abbreviated by the sweltering heat, Rear , A hangaer bay of honored guests watched this morning as Rear Adm. Bruce "Birdy" Lindsey took over as the Atlantic fleet's top aviator. command of Naval Air Forces, Atlantic from the retiring Rear Adm. John "JR" Haley.
The ceremony was carried out in an abbreviated fashion in a hot and sweltering ceremony onboard the aircraft carrier George Washington, pier side at Naval Station Norfolk.
Haley, who has lead the Atlantic air forces since January, 2015 when he relieved now Vice Adm. Mike Shoemaker who is now head of all Naval Air Forces as well as air forces, Pacific.
Vice Adm. Mike Shoemaker, the head of Naval Air Forces, as the guest of honor, presided over the ceremony and praised Lindsey and the outgoing Naval Air Force Atlantic boss, Rear Adm. John "JR" Haley. praisying both the now retiring Haley and the incoming Lindsey in his remarks.
Haley cited the successes of the Norfolk-based carrier Harry S. Truman, which recently returned from the Middle East after an eight-month deployment where the flattop smashed previous records in attacking ISIS militants. record breaking strikes against ISIS during a nine-month deployment despite the challenges of maintaining both carriers and aircraft in an era of extremely tight budgets.
Watching the successes of the carriers under his purview was the highlight of his time as AIRLANT, Haley said.
"If we do our job right at AIRLANT, we get to see those sailors at the tip of the spear open up a can of whoop-ass on the bad guys," Haley said in his farewell remarks. "Let me tell you — we love that feeling."
Haley, retiring after a 36-year career, is a 1980 Naval Academy graduate. His aviation career started when he was first designated a naval flight officer, serving as a bombardier/navigator in the A-6E Intruder. Switching seats, he entered pilot training in 1987 and became a designated pilot in naval aviator in 1989, tallying up 3,500 flight hours and over 1,100 carrier arrested landings. He flew first in EA-6B Prowlers and later transitioned to the EA-18G Growlers and F/A-18E Super Hornets.
Haley also commanded two aircraft carriers, first the Theodore Roosevelt and later the George Washington. His tour as AirLant was his third at the command, having also served as the assistant Chief of Staff for Readiness and Requirements Chief of Staff.
Lindsey takes over as naval aviation's Naval Air Forces "mini-boss," working for Shoemaker, the fleet's top operations aviator after back to back tours as a strike group commander, most recently the Norfolk-based CSG 4, which trains and assesses and certifies Atlantic fleet carrier strike groups,amphibious ready groups and well as independent deploying ships, recommending them for certification.
Prior to that, he commanded CSG-4 aboard the carrier Dwight D. Eisenhower. He also commanded the aircraft carrier Carl Vinson during "Operations Enduring Freedom" and "New Dawn."
Lindsey is a 1982 academy grad. A career naval flight officer designated so in 1983, he spent his flying career in S-3B Viking"squadrons. He commanded Sea Combat Squadron 29 embarked on the carrier Carl Vinson during the first 72 days of Operation Enduring Freedom.
Lindsey has served in various other leadership positions during his career.
At AIRLANT, Lindsey will be responsible for manning, equipping, and training for four nuclear-powered flattopsaircraft carriers, 54 aircraft squadrons of all types, 1,200 aircraft and 50,000 officers, enlisted and civilian personnel.
Lindsey's first act as AIRLANT boss was to lead three rousing cheers of "Hip hip, hooray," for his retiring predecessor. ended the ceremony in a unique way, citing an old tradition that former President Theodore Roosevelt, when commander of the famous Rough Riders used when sending off good friends who have done something noteworthy.
In his first officials act as the Atlantic Fleet's top aviator, he sent off Haley by leaving the assembled guests in three rousing choruses of "Hip Hip, Hooray" for Haley.
Mark D. Faram is a former reporter for Navy Times. He was a senior writer covering personnel, cultural and historical issues. A nine-year active duty Navy veteran, Faram served from 1978 to 1987 as a Navy Diver and photographer.
