The "Screwtops" of Carrier Airborne Early Warning Squadron (VAW) 123 held a change of command ceremony aboard aircraft carrier USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN 69) (Ike) in the Eastern Mediterranean Sea, Dec. 7.

Cmdr. Darryl Martin relieved Cmdr. Jason Chuderewicz as commanding officer in the ceremony held in the squadron's ready room.

Chuderewicz, a 1997 graduate the U.S. Naval Academy, led the squadron through a complex schedule.

He thanked the squadron for their hard work and dedication.

"I am deeply honored and very proud to have had the opportunity to lead such a fantastic group of professionals through a challenging work-up cycle and this deployment," Chuderewicz said. "Being called 'skipper' will be one of my most cherished memories, and I will never forget these young men and women who served with me in the Screwtops and worked so hard to complete our mission each and every day."

He will report to commander, Carrier Strike Group 4.

A 1999 graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy, Martin was humbled to begin his command tour of the Screwtops.

"The Screwtops are a group of intrinsically-motivated and professional Sailors who are eager to make this a better world for the next generation," Martin said. "From our undesignated Sailors learning their way to our industrious second class petty officers, from the cooperative and competitive first class petty officers to the chief petty officers that we rely on to get the job done right, and finally from our innovative junior officers to our knowledgeable department heads, you continue to set the example of our core values and attributes both on and off duty while holding the line with some of the fleet's oldest aircraft."

Martin expressed his admiration for the VAW-123 team.

"It's not easy, but you do it every day with unwavering diligence and integrity," Martin said. "I cannot think of a finer group to call my brothers- and sisters-in-arms, and I am honored and proud to have the opportunity to be the commanding officer."

Cmdr. Patrick Dziekan assumed duties as the squadron's executive officer from Martin.

VAW-123 is part of the Eisenhower Carrier Strike Group (Ike CSG), which is comprised of Ike, CSG-10 staff, the squadrons and staff of CVW-3, Destroyer Squadron (DESRON) 26 staff and accompanying guided-missile destroyers USS Stout (DDG 55), USS Roosevelt (DDG 80), USS Mason (DDG 87) and USS Nitze (DDG 94), and guided-missile cruisers USS San Jacinto (CG 56) and USS Monterey (CG 61).

Ike CSG is deployed in support of Operation Inherent Resolve, maritime security operations, and theater security cooperation efforts in the U.S. 6th Fleet area of operations.

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