The Wizards of Electronic Attack Squadron (VAQ) 133 executed an airborne change of command two hundred feet above the aircraft carrier USS John C. Stennis (CVN 74) Aug. 9 as Cmdr. Darren B. Wilkins was relieved by Cmdr. Blake J. Tornga as commanding officer.

Revitalizing a time-honored naval tradition, the light division of three EA-18G Growlers performed two fly-bys while a flight deck full of Wizard Sailors and other spectators watched.

Wilkins joined the squadron in March 2013 as executive officer, and took command June 17, 2014, immediately following the squadron's transition from the EA-6B Prowler to the EA-18G Growler, a time of dramatic change and unprecedented challenges for the Wizards.
Wilkins' leadership allowed the Wizards to emerge from the transition and thrive in the new platform, completing 12 detachments over the past year, and receiving Carrier Air Wing 9 'Most Valuable Squadron' award at Air Wing Fallon in June.

In his final squadron awards quarters, Wilkins reflected upon his tenure as commanding officer.

"I told you after transition that I looked forward to learning to fight this jet with you all," said Wilkins. "It has been an honor to see and experience the evolution to the new platform and becoming the finest airborne electronic attack squadron in the fleet."

Wilkins's next assignment will be as USS Harry S. Truman's (CVN-75) air boss.

It is fitting that Stennis' Air Boss, Cmdr. Jeffery Glaser played a role in the airborne change of command, authorizing the fly-by that turned over the reins to Tornga, the new Wizard One.

Tornga, a 25-year veteran enlisted in the Navy in 1990 as an aviation electronics technician and enlisted aircrewman, before earning a Naval Reserve Officer Training Corps scholarship to attend the University of Nebraska. He was commissioned an ensign in 1996 and earned Naval Flight Officer Wings in 1998. He completed training as electronic counter measures officer in the Prowler in 1999 at NAS Whidbey Island, Washington.

Tornga's assignments include a junior officer tour with the VAQ-136 Gauntlets, instructor tour at Electronic Weapons School, training officer of the VAQ-134 Garudas, College of Naval Command and Staff at the U.S. Navy War College, maintenance officer of the VAQ-135 Black Ravens, and staff officer at United States European Command in Stuttgart, Germany.

He completed his transition to the EA-18G Growler alongside his fellow Wizard aircrew in June 2014 and will helm the command through their maiden deployment with the airframe.

The VAQ-133 Wizards are assigned to Carrier Air Wing 9, currently embarked on Stennis. Sailors from the John C. Stennis Carrier Strike Group are undergoing composite training unit exercise and joint task force exercise (COMPTUEX/JTFEX), the final step in certifying to deploy.

For more news from USS John C. Stennis (CVN 74), visit www.navy.mil/.