The U.S. Naval Test Pilot School (USNTPS) welcomed its third Army commander, Lt. Col. Aaron Kia, during a ceremony at Naval Air Station Patuxent River on January 12th. Kia relieved Cmdr. Jeremy DeBons during an airborne change of command ceremony officiated by Naval Test Wing Atlantic Commodore, Capt. Elizabeth Somerville.
U.S. Navy photo by Jonathan Bass
Kia is the school’s 51st headmaster and rated in several helicopters including the UH-60 Blackhawk, UH-72, and the UH-64 Blackhawk. He will be leading over 300 personnel, including members from the U.S. Army, Navy, Marine Corps, Air Force, Department of Defense civilians, contractors, and foreign service members.
During the ceremony at Naval Air Station Patuxent River, outgoing commander Cmdr. Jeremy DeBons and Naval Test Wing Atlantic Commodore, Capt. Elizabeth Somerville, flew a U6-A Beaver together while incoming commander Lt. Col. Aaron Kia flew a UH-72 Lakota. As Kia assumed command, both aircraft conducted a pass, symbolizing the transfer of leadership.
At the ceremony, Capt. Somerville said Kia is the ideal candidate to lead the USNTPS. She expressed her full confidence in Kia’s ability to lead the team and continue to develop the school, providing the vital asset of critical thinking testers to test commands within the Navy, Army, Air Force, and allied nations.
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