By JIM JENKINS
NAS Patuxent River Public Affairs Department

PATUXENT RIVER NAVAL AIR STATION, MD-Marine Corps Lt. Col. Joe Mortensen relieved Navy Capt. Ron Weisbrook as the Naval Strike Aircraft Test Squadron commanding officer in a combined Marine Corps and Navy ceremony here June 21.

Guest speaker Col. Eugene Fraser, Naval Test Wing Atlantic commander, explained to the crowd the duties, purpose and accomplishments of Strike, and talked about Weisbrook's contributions to the squadron's success.

"Ron, your mission was to provide safe efficient flight test assets for the program managers, provide a healthy environment for your troops, and you've done that, you've excelled in that. Mission well done," Fraser said.

Fraser awarded Weisbrook with the Legion of Merit medal for his exceptionally meritorious conduct in the performance of outstanding service as commanding officer of Strike.

Weisbrook had "extraordinary leadership, diplomacy, technical and managerial expertise as he skillfully directed efforts of 600 military and civilian personnel in conducting the highest standard of flight test and evaluation. His inspiring and decisive direction of the squadron was the dominant factor in the command's outstanding success in flight test and acquisition procedures," according to the award citation.

The citation said Weisbrook's leadership was "fundamental to the command ensuring that all key projects were completed on time and on cost while meeting all vital performance requirements. His efforts in support of the Navy's Joint Strike Fighter and F/A-18E/F Super Hornet programs were essential to their future." Weisbrook's decisions "set the standard that were the driving force behind the squadron's impressive record of accomplishments. Through his expert foresight, detailed planning, unrelenting demand for excellence and safety, Weisbrook built a foundation for a strong and stable flight test organization for years to come."

Weisbrook thanked everyone for helping make his command tenure so successful and proceeded to get on his "soap box" by saying that we need to get our message out to the fleet. Borrowing a phrase from Vice Adm. Joe Dyer, Naval Air Systems Command commander, Weisbrook said that we need to measure our success through the eyes of the fleet, but continued that thought by adding that we need to teach the fleet what we do.

Weisbrook's next tour of duty is with the Joint Strike Fighter program office.

As his last official act as Strike commanding officer, Weisbrook awarded the Capt. Steven A. Hazelrigg Memorial Award to the F-14 Tomcat project office.

Hazelrigg, Strike's chief test pilot, was killed Aug. 15, 1990, when his A-6E Intruder suffered a catastrophic failure of the longitudinal flight control system during a test flight. Quoting from the award, "Hazelrigg embodied the highest qualities of positive leadership, professional achievement and selfless devotion to duty. These qualities, coupled with his warm, charismatic personality, fostered the officer/engineer team spirit that underlies the many successes of the Naval Strike Aircraft Test Squadron." The Hazelrigg Memorial Award was established to recognize that officer, engineer or team demonstrating those qualities of professionalism.

Mortensen was then introduced as the commanding officer of the Strike squadron. He thanked everyone for making the change of command ceremony successful and recognized his family who were in attendance. The new Strike skipper commended Weisbrook on his term as CO, saying that he left the squadron at the top of its game and congratulated him for earning the Legion of Merit.

"You are a great squadron commander, and have left some big shoes to fill," Mortensen said to Weisbrook. "Thank you for your leadership and guidance; it's been a pleasure to serve with you."

-USN-