Cmdr. Thomas Decker relieved Cmdr. Rocky Riley as commanding officer of the Center for Naval Aviation Technical Training Unit (CNATTU) Lemoore and CNATTU Lemoore Learning Site Goodfellow during a change of command ceremony, Aug. 14, at the Naval Air Station Lemoore Base Chapel.

Center for Naval Aviation Technical Training (CNATT) Commanding Officer Capt. Terrence Hammond presided over the event as CNATTU Lemoore staff and students witnessed the ceremony, bidding farewell to Riley.

Riley reported as CNATTU executive officer in October 2012 and assumed command in May 2014, overseeing the quality delivery of technical instruction from four Maintenance Training Units (MTUs) and graduating more than 8,000 students. During Riley's tenure at the helm of CNATTU Lemoore, the organization received two Retention Excellence Awards, City of Lemoore California Service Organization of the Year recognition, and the Navy Community Service Personal Excellence Partnership Award for Navy Region Southwest.

"I am humbled by the commitment to service that each and every member of CNATTU Lemoore displays," Riley said. "They truly are the best of the best and they are changing the world, one student at a time. It has been my honor and privilege to serve as their commanding officer."

Decker addressed the nearly 400 staff, students and guests for the first time as commanding officer, citing the staff's exemplary leadership, vision and guidance as unit characteristics integral to mission success.

"To the officers, chiefs, Sailors, Marines and civilians of team CNATTU Lemoore, I thank each and every one of you," Decker said. "It is your passion, service and commitment to excellence that ensures Sailors and Marines are prepared to support the warfighter to do their job anywhere on the globe. Your leadership and unwavering commitment to serve has been an awesome sight and I am privileged, honored and humbled to be in the enviable position of commanding this learning center with its impressive history of excellence as a result of your devotion and dedication to the fleet."

CNATTU Lemoore is a training unit specific to the FA-18 Hornet platform, and is part of the Center for Naval Aviation Technical Training, headquartered aboard Naval Air Station Pensacola, Florida. CNATT develops, delivers, and supports aviation technical training at 27 sites located throughout the continental United States and Japan.

CNATT is a technical training agent for the Naval Aviation Enterprise (NAE) an organization designed to advance and sustain Naval Aviation warfighting capabilities at an affordable cost, and is the largest training center under the Naval Education and Training Command (NETC) umbrella.

For more news from Center for Naval Aviation Technical Training, visit www.navy.mil/ .