NAVAL AIR SYSTEMS COMMAND, Patuxent River, Md. — Marine Lt. Col. Kevin Erker stands with Navy Cmdr. Michael Masica in front of friends, family and squadron members during a change of command ceremony at Naval Air Station Patuxent River, Maryland, May 8. Erker relieved Masica as commanding officer of Air Test and Evaluation Squadron (VX) 23 after having served as the squadron's chief test pilot since 2013.

During Masica's tenure as commanding officer, the squadron completed the first landing of the F-35C Lightning II aboard an aircraft carrier, the first landing of an F/A-18F Super Hornet aboard an aircraft carrier while using the MAGIC CARPET system and the first in-air refueling of the X-47B unmanned aerial system.

As Naval Air Systems Command's largest flight test squadron, VX-23 supports research, development, test and evaluation of fixed-wing tactical aircraft including the F-35B/C Lightning II, F/A-18A-D Hornet, F/A-18E/F Super Hornet, EA-18G Growler and EA-6B Prowler.