Currently on detachment in Keflavik, Iceland, the “Grey Knights” of VP-46 hosted the Chargé d’Affaires of Iceland, Harry Kamian, and local Icelandic Coast Guard leadership for a tour of the P-8A Poseidon Maritime Patrol aircraft.  Mr. Kamian, the former Deputy Chief of Mission and Deputy Permanent Representative to the US Mission to the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe, was able to see firsthand the versatile capability of the P-8A and the substantial technological and operational impact the platform makes for US and NATO decision makers.

“Hosting Ambassador Kamian and local Icelandic Coast Guard leadership was a great opportunity to showcase the P-8A’s capability and a chance to highlight the hard work of the Sailors that make our success in theater possible.” said LCDR Nick O’Neill, VP-46 Combat Aircrew Mission Commander and Tactical Coordinator.

VP-46 crew members AWO1 Brandon White, AWO2 David Wells, AWO2 Andrew Peterson, and AWO3 Alejandra Naranjo had the pleasure of providing Mr. Kamian a description of their duties as Air Warfare sensor operators.  “Mr. Kamian was enthralled at the amount of training we received to arrive at the level of competency that is required for our duties,” stated AWO2 Wells.  Following the Q&A session, the crew provided Mr. Kamian a tour of the Mission Crew Workstations, and demonstrated how aircrew effectively executes tactical operations while on station.

“It was a pleasure to have Mr. Kamian and the Icelandic Coast Guard take a tour of our jet and to answer any questions they had.  It’s a privilege to represent VP-46 in furthering our goal to broaden the close political, economic, and cultural ties between our two nations,” said AWO1 Brandon White, VP-46 Combat Aircrew Electronic Warfare Operator.

At the end of the tour, Mr. Kamian was thoroughly impressed with the aircraft, the maintainers, and the aircrew representing VP-46 in Iceland.  As his final departing words, Mr. Kamian excitedly asked “how long do I get to fly for?”

VP-46 is currently forward deployed to the US Sixth Fleet area of operations and is assigned to Commander, Task Force 67, responsible for tactical control of deployed maritime patrol and reconnaissance squadrons throughout Europe and Africa.