PATUXENT RIVER NAVAL AIR STATION, MD—Cmdr. Paul Sohl will relieve Cmdr. Richard Brasel as commanding officer of the U.S. Naval Test Pilot School here at 11 a.m. Apr. 11.

Sohl was born in Waterloo, Iowa and graduated from Rock Island High School, Rock Island, Ill., in May 1981. Sohl graduated from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in June 1985 with a Bachelor of Science in Aeronautical Engineering. Sohl continued his education at Stanford University, where he received a Master of Science in Aeronautical and Astronautical Engineering in June 1986.

After receiving his commission through the Navy ROTC program, Sohl attended flight training in Pensacola, Fla., and Beeville, Texas—earning his wings in August 1988. Later that year he reported to VFA-125 in Lemoore, Calif., for training in the F/A-18 Hornet, with a subsequent assignment to the Stingers of VFA-113. While in VFA-113, he deployed to the Western Pacific on USS Independence during Operation Desert Shield.

In the summer of 1992, Sohl was selected to attend the U.S. Naval Test Pilot School. After graduating with USNTPS Class 104 in 1993, he reported to the F/A-18 Weapons Test Squadron, China Lake, Calif., where he worked on F/A-18C Operational Flight Program upgrade projects. While on this assignment, Sohl was selected as an aerospace engineering duty officer. He was also selected as “Test Pilot of the Year” for the Naval Air Warfare Center Weapons Division in 1995.

His first assignment as an AEDO was to the Naval Aviation Depot, North Island, Calif., working as the deputy program manager for the F/A-18 program. In August 1998 he reported to the Joint Strike Fighter Program Office in Crystal City, Va.—first as the executive assistant to the director then as a member of the JSF source selection team.

He reported to the U.S. Naval Test Pilot School as executive officer in August 2001.
Sohl has logged over 2,700 flight hours in more than 30 types of aircraft. His personal decorations include the Defense Meritorious Service Medal, the Navy Commendation Medal and the Navy Achievement Medal.

Sohl is married to the former Kathryn Brown of Riverdale, Calif., and they have two children.

Brasel was born in Corpus Christi, Texas and raised in Miami and New York City. He graduated from Curtis High School in Staten Island, N.Y. in 1976 and earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Geology from Eastern Illinois University in 1981. Following a brief career as a geologist in Oklahoma and Texas, he attended Aviation Officer Candidate School in Pensacola, Fla., and was commissioned an ensign in 1983.

In 1984 Brasel received the wings of a Naval Aviator and was assigned to SH-60B training at HSL-41 in San Diego. Brasel is a plank owner in HSL-43, the first fleet LAMPS Mk III helicopter squadron. At HSL-43 he made Indian Ocean and Northern Pacific cruises on USS Curts and USS Cushing. Following his first sea tour, he was selected for U.S. Naval Test Pilot School and graduated with Class 95 in 1989. He was assigned to the Rotary Wing Test Directorate at NATC Patuxent River and worked on numerous SH-60B and SH-2 flying qualities, performance and systems projects.

He reported for duty as assistant operations officer for Cruiser-Destroyer Group Three aboard the USS Nimitz during Desert Storm. Following this staff tour, his aviation department head tour was as the squadron maintenance officer and detachment officer in charge for HSL-49 in San Diego. At HSL-49, he made Persian Gulf and South Pacific cruises aboard USS Vandergrift and USS Lake Champlain. He also earned his officer of the deck underway while assigned to USS Vandegrift.

In 1996 he earned a master’s degree in National Security and Strategic Studies from the Naval War College in Newport, R.I. He was subsequently assigned as the senior rotary wing instructor at the U.S. Naval Test Pilot School and as the Navy UAV Class Desk Officer at Naval Air Systems Command in Patuxent River. Brasel assumed the duties as USNTPS executive officer in February 2000 and commanding officer in August 2001.

Brasel has more than 4,500 flight hours in more than 40 types of aircraft. His personal decorations include a Meritorious Service Medal, and three Navy Commendation Medals. Brasel, his wife, Crystal, and daughters live in Leonardtown, Md.

Brasel will be transferring to NAVAIR’s Aviation Training Systems program office.

-USN-

Cmdr. Paul Sohl (first photo) will relieve Cmdr. Richard Brasel (second photo) as commanding officer of the U.S. Naval Test Pilot School April 11.