As your new president, let me introduce myself. I am currently the commanding officer of Naval Air Station Meridian, which I assumed command of in August 2005. I earned my undergraduate degree in civil and ocean engineering from the University of Rhode Island in 1982 and a master's degree in National Security and Strategic Studies from the Naval War College in 1997. I earned my commission through Aviation Officer Candidate School in August 1982 and was designated a Naval Aviator in Beeville, Texas, in June 1984. I also am a graduate of the United States Navy Test Pilot School. Over the last 24 years I have accumulated more than 3,900 flight hours and 900 carrier arrested landings while flying more than 50 different types of aircraft. My sea tours have included deployments on board USS Coral Sea (CV-43), America (CV-66), Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN-69) and John C. Stennis (CVN-74). I have participated in combat operations over Libya, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Iraq, Somalia and Afghanistan. Before taking command of NAS Meridian, I commanded VFA-147 home ported at NAS Lemoore, Calif.
I was humbly flattered to be elected by our board of directors to lead this great association of Naval Aviators, past, present and future. I consider this a great opportunity to give something back to Naval Aviation. After the difficult times experienced in the '90s, the Tailhook Association and its membership have worked very diligently, and with hard earned success, to return the organization to its roots of being ambassadors for our profession, which is honorable and critical to our national defense.
This brings me to the most important issue, acknowledging those who have gone before me. The Association owes a great deal of gratitude and debt to RADM Scott "Notso" Swift for his great effort this past year. Although he was called away on a family emergency only days before the reunion, the entire event went off without a hitch, which is a tribute to his great leadership and the strength of the Association. He did the heavy lifting beforehand, and it showed as the rest of us reaped the benefits of his leadership.
Secondly, thanks to past President Roy Rogers -- what a great American. He stepped up to the plate and did what he has done for the last four years, running the reunion with the style and confidence that are his trademarks. I was honored to have the opportunity to follow the "master" as he executed the mission of seeing the reunion through to a successful completion, volunteering to the take the reins and lead me around with only two days notice. Roy is one of a kind, and the Association is fortunate to have such a great American in our midst.
Thirdly, I appreciate our Chairman of the Board, Rabbit Campbell, who had the decency to tell Notso that his place was with his family. He had the confidence that the organization would be able to execute the mission, secure enough to know that working alongside Roy, the reunion would be a resounding success. And it was.
And lastly, kudos to the volunteers and staff of the Tailhook Association. You are the reason this organization is able to function. The membership is what makes the Tailhook Association so great, but it is the volunteers that "keep the jet in the air." Your dedication and hard work throughout Hook '06 was inspiring.
I look forward to serving the membership, continuing to promote the Association and building upon the strong foundations left behind by my predecessors.