The "Chargers" of Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron (HSC) 14 held a change of command ceremony at Naval Air Station North Island Sept. 17.

During the ceremony, Cmdr. Joseph W. Cortopassi of Mount View, California, who previously served as the squadron's executive officer, relieved Cmdr. Edward M. Weiler of Mount Holly, New Jersey, as the commanding officer of HSC-14.

Weiler assumed command of HSC-14 in July 2014 during a ceremony that took place in Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, while the squadron was participating in Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC), a multi-national naval exercise. Since Weiler assumed command, the HSC-14 "Chargers" have embarked on many detachments and exercises, to include multiple trips to Fallon, Nevada, exercises aboard both USS Nimitz (CVN 68) and USS John C. Stennis (CVN 74), and training evolutions with special operations forces in the San Diego area.

Weiler was designated as a Naval Aviator in 1999. Since then, he has flown over 3,100 hours, including service abroad in the Mediterranean Sea, Kuwait, and Iraq. He will be moving to Washington, D.C., to continue his naval service at the Pentagon.

The "Chargers" of HSC-14 are ready to deploy with their new Commanding Officer Cortopassi. The squadron, fully qualified, will embark on deployment with Carrier Airwing 9 aboard John C. Stennis in the near future. Cortopassi, having deployed with both Expeditionary Strike Group 3 in support of Operation Enduring Freedom and aboard John C. Stennis, will continue to bring knowledge and experience to HSC-14. HSC-14 will continue to excel and perform to the highest standards of excellence under the leadership of Cortopassi.

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