NAVAL AIR SYSTEMS COMMAND, PATUXENT RIVER, Md. — The U.S. Naval Test Pilot School (USNTPS) received its newest commanding officer at a ceremony held here Oct. 18.

 Lt. Col. Gregory Fortier, USNTPS squadron executive officer relieved Cmdr. Brandt Moslener, becoming the 45th commanding officer of USNTPS and the second Army officer in history to command USNTPS.

 "This is a great day with great naval traditions," Vice Adm. David Dunaway, Commander, Naval Air Systems Command said during his keynote speech. "We do this in the Navy because it symbolizes something from our past and because it is really important for folks to know that you have a proper change of command. We are celebrating the success of one commander, Brandt [Moslener], and we are going to celebrate the future successes of the new commander, Greg [Fortier].

 Moslener, a Pennington, N.J., native, holds an aerospace engineering degree from Auburn University and a master’s degree in aerospace engineering from the University of Alabama. He was commissioned in the Navy in December 1992 and became a naval aviator in December 1995. His history with USNTPS includes a tour as a student and a staff instructor pilot. He reported to USNTPS as executive officer in November 2010 and became the commander of USNTPS in 2012.

 “This opportunity has absolutely been a dream come true for me,” Moslener said. “I am extremely humbled to have had the opportunity to serve as a steward here and to have served with a group of such exceptionally talented people.”

 Moslener’s successor, Fortier, a native of Terryville, Conn., graduated from the U.S. Military Academy at West Point in June 1996. He holds a bachelor’s degree in operational research and a master’s degree in industrial engineering from the University of Central Florida. Fortier has served as squadron executive officer since March 2012.

 “To the academic, flight, operations, safety, maintenance and support staff of the worldwide leader in test pilot education, I thank you in advance for your support,” Fortier said. “Thank you for teaching me something every day and continuing to be the yardstick for quality. You are truly excellent.”

Founded in 1945 at Patuxent River’s Flight Test Center, the USNTPS provides aviation education by teaching students how to investigate and develop new flight test techniques. The school conducts special projects at the request of the flight test community and publishes manuals for the aviation test community to standardize flight test techniques and project reporting.