The "Zappers" of Electronic Attack Squadron (VAQ) 130 held a change of command ceremony at Naval Air Station Widbey Island, June 21.

Cmdr. David Ganci relieved Cmdr. Brendan Stickles as commanding officer in a ceremony held in the squadron's hangar.

Stickles, a 1998 graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy, took command of the Zappers in December 2016 during their previous deployment with the USS Dwight D. Eisenhower Carrier Strike Group in support of Operaton Inherent Resolve. He also served as a VAQ-130 department head from October 2010 to May 2013 and completed two tours as an instructor pilot with VAQ-129 and
Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 106 following his first fleet tour with VAQ-136. Stickles led the Zappers through the end of their deployment and sustainment period. He will report to the Brookings Institution as a Federal Executive Fellow in Washington, D.C.

Ganci, a 1998 graduate of Elmira College, earned his commission at Officer Candidate School. He reported to VAQ-130 in October 2016 after a tour at PERS-43 at Navy Personnel Command and attaining his master's degree at the Naval War College. Following his first fleet tour with VAQ-136, Ganci became an Electronic Attack Weapons School instructor, served as the training officer for VAQ-140 and later as a department head for VAQ-142. Ganci will lead the Zapper team through a work-up cycle and into their next deployment.

Cmdr. Jack Curtis assumed the duties as the squadron's executive officer.

VAQ-130 is part of Carrier Strike Group (CSG) 10, comprised of USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN 69); CSG-10 staff; the squadrons and staff of Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 3; Destroyer Squadron (DESRON) 26 staff and accompanying guided-missile destroyers USS Stout (DDG 55), USS McFaul (DDG 74), USS Truxton (DDG 103), and USS Oscar Austin (DDG 79); and guided-missile cruisers USS Vella Gulf (CG 72), USS San Jacinto (CG 56), and USS Monterey
(CG 61).



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