By James Darcy

TEAM Public Affairs, Patuxent River

Capt. Patrick J. Hovatter assumed control as the new commanding officer of Naval Air Station Patuxent River at a change of command ceremony on station last Thursday. Hundreds of guests gathered in the hangar of the Naval Force Aircraft Test Squadron to hear final remarks from outgoing commanding officer, Capt. Paul Roberts, and to welcome their new skipper.

"I’m very proud and pleased to turn over to you the best air station in the Navy," Roberts told Hovatter, who has served as executive officer of the air station for the past two years. Roberts lauded the efforts of the Patuxent River workforce, citing 23 major Navy or Defense Department awards issued to the air station in the past three years.

Vice Adm. Joseph Dyer, commander of the Naval Air Systems Command, offered much of the credit for those achievements to Roberts’ influence. "Paul, you’ve been a stable force in a turbulent time," he told the outgoing skipper. "Let me personally express my gratitude for the depth of your commitment and the long list of accomplishments you leave in your wake."

Dyer also spoke of his confidence in Hovatter, who served as the admiral’s vice commander for two years when Dyer commanded the Naval Air Warfare Center Aircraft Division.

"With all of the opportunity we have ahead and the challenges that are sure to come, it is more important than ever to have the right leadership guiding this organization," Dyer said. Hovatter takes command of a facility that has seen tremendous change in the last half decade, increasing workforce and infrastructure demands while all the time creating new efficiencies.

For instance, Dyer spoke of energy-saving initiatives under Roberts’ command that resulted in a 31 percent decrease in consumption despite a 69 percent increase in utilized square footage. "That’s real money that goes directly toward our procurement programs," Dyer said.

After relieving Roberts of command, Hovatter made it clear that he had no intentions to divert from the course Roberts had set. "My instincts tell me not to mess with the autopilot," he said.

Hovatter told the audience that he felt "charmed, plain and simple," to be given command of Patuxent River. He urged those who live and work on station to share his enthusiasm for the place. "If you aren’t having fun, you’re doing something wrong," he explained. "I want your fun meter to be pegged at 100 percent."

Hovatter’s fun-loving ethic is validated by the numerous achievements and awards that punctuate his 26 years in the Navy. The Minnesota native holds a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering from the University of Mississippi and a masters in telecommunications systems from the Naval Postgraduate School in Monterey, Calif. His career as a P-3 Orion pilot included a tour in command of Fleet Air Reconnaissance Squadron One (VQ-1), but he has also "flown a desk" with distinction in several critical acquisition billets.

Of all the titles he has held, however, none is more significant to him than that of Family Man. Hovatter was joined for the day’s events by a network of immediate and extended family, including his parents, wife Sherrie, and his children Ryan, Kyle and Kelly. Before closing his brief remarks, Hovatter thanked them all, and told his children that he was proud to be their father. Then, turning to Vice Adm. Dyer, he said, "Boss, my fun meter is pegged. How about yours?"