The "Grim Reapers" of Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 101 held a change of command ceremony Jan. 12 at Eglin Air Force Base, Florida.

During the ceremony, Cmdr. Nicholas D. Good relieved Capt. James D. Christie as the commanding officer of VFA-101, the first F-35C Lightning II squadron in the Navy.

Capt. Markus J. Gudmundsson, commodore, Strike Fighter Wing, U.S. Pacific Fleet, presided over the transfer of leadership.

Since Christie assumed command of VFA-101, VFA-101 has more than exceeded all expectations in the continued establishment of the Navy's first F-35C squadron. The Grim Reapers made quantum leaps for the F-35C program, training over 150 F-35C maintenance personnel, and qualifying 26 instructor, operational, and developmental test pilots while achieving end-state Fleet Replacement Squadron production capacity, laying the foundation for successful Initial Operational Test and Evaluation and ensuring F-35C Initial Operational Capability remains on track with Naval Aviation Enterprise guidelines.

During his tenure, he led the squadron through a highly successful Commander, Naval Air Forces Aviation Maintenance Inspection, the U.S. Navy's first F-35C Conventional Weapons Technical Proficiency Inspection (CWTPI), and the U.S. Navy's first F-35C Fleet Carrier Qualification. The Grim Reapers received perfect scores in all three phases of CWTPI, achieved a 100 percent boarding rate aboard aircraft carrier USS George Washington (CVN 73), and earned full, organic Safe-for-Flight certification -- all firsts for the F-35C program.

Under Christie's command, the Grim Reapers more than tripled in size, growing to 23 airframes and flying over 4,000 mishap-free flight hours. Christie will go on to be Commander, Carrier Airwing 9.

Good said he is "thrilled to lead the Grim Reapers into their next stage of Initial Operational Capability (IOC) for the F-35C. Captain Christie expanded the bounds of the Navy's F-35C maintenance and training program, leaving behind an unrivaled legacy. It is an honor and privilege to continue his exceptional work, and to lead the remarkable team he has assembled, to successfully integrate the F-35C into fleet operations."

VFA-101 is the F-35C Fleet Replacement Squadron, training Navy air crew and maintenance personnel to fly and repair the F-35C, a fifth generation fighter which combines advanced stealth with fighter speed and agility, fully-fused sensor information, network-enabled operations, and advanced sustainment.

By 2025, the Navy's aircraft carrier-based air wings will consist of a mix of F-35C, F/A-18E/F Super Hornets, EA-18G Growler electronic attack aircraft, E-2D Hawkeye battle management and control aircraft, MH-60R/S Sea Hawk helicopters, and Carrier Onboard Delivery logistics aircraft.

Since June 1942, Grim Reapers has served as the nickname for three different squadrons -- Fighter Squadron (VF) 10, VF-101, and now VFA-101 -- flying various aircraft, including the F4F Wildcat, the FG1-D Corsair, the F-4 Phantom, the F-14 Tomcat and currently the F-35C. The Grim Reapers flew combat missions in the Battle of Guadalcanal and the Korean War, and at various times since World War II served as trainers for future naval aviators joining the fleet.

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