Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 103 held a change of command ceremony at the squadron's hangar aboard Naval Air Station (NAS) Oceana on June 26.
Cmdr. Brian Broadwater relieved Cmdr. Patrice Fernandes during a brief ceremony. In January, VFA-103 returned from a 10-month deployment as part of Carrier Air Wing Seven (CVW-7) assigned aboard the nuclear-powered aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN 72).
Fernandes, a native of Dakar, Senegal, who grew up in Brockton, Mass., began his career in August 1988 at Officer Candidate School under the Seaman to Admiral program. Fernandes took command in 2018. Fernandes has accumulated more than 4,000 hours in various aircraft and more than 1,300 arrested landings.
Broadwater, an Elizabethtown native, received his commission through the United States Naval Academy and reported to VFA-103 as the executive officer in April 2019. Broadwater has accumulated more than 2,700 hours in various aircraft and more than 650 arrested landings.
Broadwater said his responsibility is to provide his sailors an environment necessary for personal and professional growth while meeting their operational, maintenance, and administrative requirements.
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