Cmdr. David Moore relieved Cmdr. Richard R. Grove during a change of command ceremony for Center for Naval Aviation Technical Training Unit (CNATTU) Oceana onboard Naval Air Station Oceana Nov. 16.

Center for Naval Aviation Technical Training (CNATT) Commanding Officer Capt. Eric J. Simon presided over the ceremony attended by staff members, students, family and friends.

During his remarks before turning over command in the CNATTU Oceana Ceremonial Hangar, Grove thanked the CNATTU staff for their support during his two-year tour as commanding officer.

"I am honored and humbled to have been a member of this remarkable team," said Grove. "I thank each and every one of you for what you do every day. I am in the position to say that I am privileged with an exceptional staff whose professionalism is second to none."

As CNATTU Oceana commanding officer, Grove oversaw more than 365,000 hours of delivered instruction supporting the F/A-18 A through G Hornet series aircraft. Additionally, CNATTU Oceana received the Fiscal Year 2015 and 2016 Retention Excellence Award and the 2016 Naval Education and Training Command (NETC) Excellence in Safety Award under Grove's leadership.

"It has been an honor and privilege to serve as the tenth commanding officer of CNATTU Oceana, and I am confident that the good work here will continue to rise to new levels under the leadership of Cmdr. David Moore," said Grove, whose next assignment is with the Airborne Command and Control and Logistics Wing.

Moore, an Easley, South Carolina native, most recently served as the CNATTU Oceana executive officer.

"I am truly humbled and honored to have the opportunity to lead the exceptional men and women of CNATTU Oceana," Moore said while addressing CNATTU Oceana service members and staff for the first time as their commanding officer. "This team continues to impress me with their professionalism and the sacrifice they make to serve our country."

Before receiving a commission in January 2000 under the Limited Duty Officer program, Moore began his career in the enlisted ranks in 1986 as an aviation ordnanceman. He served in a variety of operational and staff tours before being selected as a chief petty officer in 1998. He holds a bachelor's degree in Workforce Education and Development from Southern Illinois University and a master's degree in Leadership and Management from Liberty University.

CNATTU Oceana supports the Department of Defense by providing specialized technical training to aviation maintenance professionals for F/A-18 Hornets and automated test equipment in direct support of genuine and emerging fleet requirements. CNATTU Oceana is part of CNATT, which provides single-site management for Navy and Marine Corps aviation technical training.

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 under NETC.

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