PATUXENT RIVER NAVAL AIR STATION, MD—Capt. Thomas R. Mehringer will relieve Capt. Glen R. Ives as commanding officer of the “Pioneers” of Air Test and Evaluation Squadron 1 at a change of command ceremony here April 4 at 10:30 a.m. Mehringer is the VX-1 executive officer, and this is the first time in the squadron’s history that the executive officer has “fleeted up” to the commanding officer slot.

Mehringer was born in Waco, Texas, in May 1958 to an Air Force family, and describes “the continental United States” as his hometown. A graduate of the University of Oregon, he received his commission in 1981 through the Aviation Officer Candidate Program. Mehringer completed flight training and was designated a Naval aviator in January 1982 in Corpus Christi, Texas.

After transition training for the P-3 Orion, Mehringer reported to the "Big Red," Patrol Squadron 19, stationed in Moffett Field, Calif., in December 1982. He participated in VP-19’s deployments to Misawa, Japan; Kadena, Okinawa; and Diego Garcia, British Indian Ocean Territory. In May 1985, Mehringer transferred to Patrol Squadron 31 (West Coast P-3 FRS) where he served as the pilot training officer and was qualified as an instructor pilot in all models of the P-3.

In January 1989, Mehringer reported to Patrol Squadron Special Projects Unit 1. While attached, VPU-1 completed numerous detachments in support of fleet operations including Operation Desert Shield and Desert Storm. In July 1991, Mehringer reported to Montgomery, Ala., and completed Joint Professional Military Education Phase I at the U.S. Air Force's Air Command and Staff College.

Following P-3 refresher training, Mehringer reported to Patrol Squadron 26 at NAS Brunswick, Maine, in January 1993. He served as the Safety/NATOPS Officer and aircraft maintenance officer. In November 1994, Mehringer was assigned to the Bureau of Naval Personnel, Officer Performance Division (PERS-82).

Mehringer reported as executive officer on June 20,1996, and assumed duties as commanding officer Training Squadron 31 (VT-31) on May 30,1997. During his command tour, VT-31 successfully integrated a new multi-engine training aircraft, the Beech Aircraft TC-12B Huron, and flew more than 43,600 mishap-free hours. In March 1998, VT-31 was awarded the prestigious Chief of Naval Air Training, Training Excellence Award.

After VT-31, Mehringer reported to NAVAIR, PMA-290 as the assistant program manager P-3 logistics in June 1998 and transitioned to deputy program manager P-3C Update III in March 2000. Mehringer reported as executive officer of VX-1 on Oct. 29, 2001.

Mehringer's awards include Meritorious Service Medals, a Strike/Flight Air Medal, a Navy Commendation Medal, Navy Achievements and various other unit and national campaign awards.

Mehringer and his wife Beck, a substitute teacher and law school graduate, have two sons, Taylor, 13, and Jacob (“Don’t call me Jake”), 9.

Ives will be reporting to his new position as vice commander of NAWCAD under Rear Adm. Tim Heely. He will be replacing Capt. J.B. Hollyer, who retired from the Navy and the vice commander post two months ago.

From a career Army family, Ives grew up on numerous Army posts located throughout the continental United States and overseas. He graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy in June 1978 and was designated a Naval aviator in July 1980 at NAS Whiting Field, Fla.

His first operational assignment was in Helicopter Anti-Submarine Squadron Light 30 (HSL-30) sea detachment at NAS Norfolk, Va., flying the SH-2D/F Seasprite. In December 1983, he was reassigned to HSL-30 as a fleet replacement squadron instructor and served as the FRS NATOPS/ standardization officer. During this tour, he was selected to instruct and qualify John Lehman, Secretary of the Navy from 1981 to 1987, as an unrestricted naval aviator in the SH-2F.

Ives reported to the HSL-32 “Invaders” in December 1985 as officer-in-charge and embarked his detachment in USS Thomas C. Hart (FF 1092), USS Koelsch (FF 1049), and USS Voge (FF 1047), completing deployments to the Mediterranean, North Atlantic and Caribbean. Thomas C. Hart earned the Chief of Naval Operations LAMPS Ship Safety Award for 1986.

In September 1987, he was assigned as flag lieutenant to the deputy commander-in-chief, United States Transportation Command, Vice Adm. A.J. Herberger, and helped establish the eighth and newest Unified Command at Scott Air Force Base, Ill.

After completing SH-2F refresher training at HSL-30 in January 1990, Ives reported to the HSL-34 “Greencheckers” as Detachment 3 officer-in-charge and deployed in USS Hayler (DD 997) for UNITAS XXXI, a joint exercise with several South American navies. During this deployment, Detachment 3 earned Destroyer Squadron 32’s “Hook’em” Award as the most mission-effective tactical unit in the battle group. Ives was also recognized as the Naval Helicopter Association’s Pilot of the Year and HSL-34’s Officer of the Year.

In September 1991, he reported to Commander, Helicopter Wings Atlantic, as executive assistant to Rear Adm. J.S. Walker. After serving in that capacity for one year, he reported to HSL-40 and completed transition training to the SH-60B Seahawk helicopter.

Ives joined HSL-42 as executive officer in January 1993. He assumed command of the world-famous “Proud Warriors” in June 1994. During this time, HSL-42 earned the Battle “E” and the CNO Aviation Safety Award.

In October 1995, Ives reported to the “Mighty Nine,” USS Guam (LPH 9), as operations officer and subsequently served as executive officer, deploying to the Mediterranean and West Africa. The “Mighty Nine” was recognized as the top Atlantic Fleet amphibious aircraft carrier, earning the Battle “E” for two consecutive years.

Ives reported to Carlisle Barracks, Pa., in July 1997 as a member of U.S. Army War College Class of 1998. Following graduation he was assigned to U.S. Southern Command in July 1998 as special assistant to the Commander-in-Chief, Marine Corps Gen. Charles E. Wilhelm. He served in that capacity until his promotion to captain, and was reassigned as deputy director for Counter-drug Operations.

Ives assumed command of the “Mighty Pioneers” of VX-1 at NAS Pax River March 31, 2001.

Ives is married to the former Barbara Arlene Morris of Langhorne, Pa., a 1980 graduate of the United States Naval Academy and a Reserve captain attached to Naval Oceanographic Reserve Headquarters at Stennis Space Center, Miss. They have three sons, Glen Christopher, 17, Matthew Francis, 16, and Jack Alexander, 14, who love soccer, hoops, lacrosse, the Navy, and the Boston Celtics.

-USN-

Capt. Thomas R. Mehringer (second photo) will relieve Capt. Glen R. Ives (first photo) as commanding officer of the “Pioneers” of Air Test and Evaluation Squadron 1 at a change of command ceremony here April 4 at 10:30 a.m.