Photo By Chief Petty Officer Jacquelyn Childs | FORT WORTH, Texas (Nov. 6, 2021) The Naval Air Station (NAS) Joint Reserve Base (JRB)...... read more read more
NAS JRB Fort Worth, Texas (NNS) Fleet Logistics Support Squadron (VR) 59, also known as “The Lone Star Express,” conducted a change of command during a small ceremony in their hangar bay aboard Naval Air Station Joint Reserve Base Fort Worth, Texas, Nov. 6.
During the ceremony, Cmdr. Erik Phelps turned over command to the squadron’s former executive officer and newest commanding officer, Cmdr. John Scott.
“Legacy. That’s a pretty powerful word,” said the guest speaker, Capt. William Pilcher, commanding officer, Naval Air Facility Washington. “You’re building your legacy, whether you realize it or not. Building on top of those who came before you and leaving it for those who come after you.”
During his remarks, Pilcher congratulated Phelps and his team at the Lone Star Express on the many accomplishments they’ve had over the last 18 months. Despite the challenges posed with the COVID-19 pandemic, the squadron continued to operate around the clock, deploying aircraft and personnel for five months to the INDO-PACOM area of operations to support U.S. Navy’s 7th Fleet.
On top of their deployments and routine missions, the squadron also provided transportation support for medical personnel to provide pandemic relief to forward-deployed Navy assets. Even further, the Lone Star Express recently provided aircraft and personnel to support operations relocating Afghan families during Operation Allies Refuge.
“To the men and women of VR-59, thank you,” said Phelps during his remarks as he discussed his Sailors’ accomplishments over the past 14 months under his command. “You’ve heard me say it over and over again, and I will say it one last time. I can say with confidence that no VR squadron in history has ever faced the number and nature of challenges that we have had to overcome in the last year. And we did.”
Phelps also thanked Scott who has served as the squadron’s XO under Phelps and who has been assigned to the Lone Star Express for several years.
“You are one of the most honest and honorable men I have ever met,” Phelps said. “And you care about people and their families deep in your core. You love this squadron, having been here several years, and you want to make it awesome. You are the right man to guide VR-59 into its next phase.”
“I am thrilled and absolutely honored to be your commanding officer,” said Scott after assuming command. “For the past eight years, I’ve seen the squadron rise to meet any challenge. This is not a traditional reserve unit and none of you are traditional reserve Sailors. You are the giants of naval aviation. This reserve squadron does not operate one weekend a month and two weeks in the summer. This squadron operates 24/7, 365 days a year supporting fleet logistics requirements around the entire globe.”
While VR-59 is finally falling back into more routine, day-to-day operations following the unexpected challenges thrown their way over the last year and a half, Scott expressed his confidence that the squadron will be ready to respond if and when they’re needed again.
“Our nation needs VR-59 and you have proven time and time again that you have what it takes to answer the call,” said Scott. “The next call may come sooner than any of us think. The news cycle never goes more than a day or two without covering some development in the Pacific… If conflict arises between us and our peer or near-peer competitors, Navy Fleet Logistics squadrons will be called to mobilize. The Lone Star Express will be standing by, ready for tasking.”
VR-59 provides essential, responsive and flexible airlift in support of the Navy’s peacetime operations, combat missions, humanitarian assistance and disaster relief worldwide.
| Date Taken: | 11.06.2021 |
| Date Posted: | 11.09.2021 10:56 |
| Story ID: | 408974 |
| Location: | FORT WORTH, TEXAS, US |
| Web Views: | 1,079 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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