NAVAL AIR SYSTEMS COMMAND, PATUXENT RIVER, Md. -- The Naval Reserve Program Executive Officer for Tactical Aircraft Program welcomed two new commanders during a change-of-command ceremony here Thursday.

Capt. Nancy Vegel, who leaves NR PEO(T) to assume the position of program plans deputy for NR Strategic Mission Analysis Unit here, relinquished the reigns of command to Capt. Kenneth Branham.

Cmdr. Donald Burns, who is transferring from NR PEO(T) Detachment A in Great Lakes, Ill., to the main mission unit here, was relieved by Cmdr. Michael Wallace.

Branham, who took command of NR PEO(T), comes to the position after serving as the military deputy for the Joint Aircraft Survivability Program and as joint test director for Joint Live Fire-Air here.

He is a graduate of the University of Rochester and was commissioned via the Navy’s Aviation Officer Candidate School in Pensacola, Fla., in 1984. He later graduated with distinction from the Air Force Institute of Technology at Wright Patterson AFB, Ohio, with a dual master’s degree in logistics and acquisition management.

Branham began his naval career as an aviation maintenance duty officer at NAS Miramar, Calif. Throughout his career, he served primarily as a maintenance officer and quality assurance officer, while completing several deployments.

After he retired from active duty, Branham joined the NR in 1995 and has held numerous department head positions and served as a Joint Combat Assessment Team assessor in Iraq.

His decorations include Fleet Marine Force Warfare Pin Navy, six Marine Corps Commendation medals, Legion of Merit, and numerous Navy Commendation medals and unit awards.

“We are going to focus on mission, be mission capability ready and fulfill the needs of PEO (T),” said Branham during the ceremony to the members of his unit. I hope to follow in Capt. Vegel’s footsteps and provide strong leadership and mentorship to our junior officers.”

Wallace, the new detachment commander, most recently served in NR PEO(A) here.

A 1987 graduate of the University of Nevada, Reno, Wallace began his active-duty career after being commissioned through the Aviation Officer Candidate School. He later graduated from the United States Naval Test Pilot School here.

During his active duty and NR career, Wallace has flown more 4400 flight hours in 36 types of aircraft and 638 arrested landings aboard aircraft carriers. He has flown combat missions over Iraq, Somalia and Bosnia-Herzegovina/Kosovo.

“Detachment A is going to continue to focus our efforts on making the life of the warfighter better,” said Wallace. “We are going to use our talents and take on the work that needs to be done in PEO(T),” said Wallace.

The NR PEO(T) and NR PEO (T) Detachment A are responsible for providing engineering, maintenance and acquisition support to NAVAIR and PEO(T).

“We in PEO(T) value the contributions of our reservists. They offer us critical skill sets and experience that are unique and singular. We could not do our mission without their support,” said Rear Adm. Skinner, Program Executive Officer for PEO(T) here.

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Cutline: Rear. Adm. W. Mark Skinner looks on as Capt. Kenneth Branham, incoming Naval Reserve PEO(T) commander, and Capt Nancy Vegel, NR PEO(T) outgoing commander, salute each out to signify the NR PEO(T) change of command. Photo by Marcia. T. Hart-Wise