Cmdr. Matthew Persiani was relieved by Cmdr. Matthew Wright during a Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron (HSC) 22 “Sea Knights” change-of-command ceremony at Naval Station Norfolk Nov. 22.

Retired Command Master Chief Petty Officer Justin Crowe, former command master chief of HSC-22, served as the guest speaker.

“I can say I was fortunate enough that I got to know these two gentlemen intimately,” Crowe said. “About twelve years ago, we were all stationed at the HSC weapons school together. They were both eager lieutenants, and I was a young chief, and we were in the trenches together merging the HSC community into one with a lot of competing ideas.”

Wright relieved Persiani with the traditional exchange of salutes, assuming all duties and responsibilities as the commanding officer of HSC-22 in a ceremony attended by distinguished visitors, family, and HSC-22 crew.

“I’d like to say thank you to my many mentors, shipmates, and fellow members of the HSC front offices,” Wright said. “Thank you for being here today. More specifically, thank you for the outstanding support that you’ve rendered in my career leading up to now. I look forward to serving with you in the future.”

During the ceremony, Persiani also received the Meritorious Service Medal for consistently demonstrating outstanding leadership, superb managerial skills, unmatched drive, and competency in the performance of his duties as commanding officer and executive officer at HSC-22 from July 13, 2017 to Nov. 22, 2019. His unparalleled devotion to duty, personal integrity, and initiative were instrumental to the command's outstanding readiness and remarkable record of achievements. Additionally, his remarkable dedication and leadership allowed for the "Sea Knights" to meet all requirements for emergent humanitarian aid, disaster relief, and Defense Support of Civil Authorities missions.

Through Persiani’s understanding of the Naval Aviation Enterprise vision and leadership of the squadron, HSC-22 completed 44,085 maintenance actions encompassing 96,523 maintenance man-hours, enabling HSC-22 to reach and sustain a 98% deployed mission completion rate while flying 3,880.9 flight hours during fiscal years 2018 and 2019, and 8,500 during his total time at the squadron. As a result of the command’s accomplishments and mission readiness efforts, the squadron was awarded the 2017 and 2018 Blue “M” Award for sustained medical readiness, and the 2017 and 2018 Retention Excellence Award.

“To my Sea Knights team, thank you,” Persiani said. “The world will not forget you. The day you decided to join the Navy, you separated yourself from 99% of all Americans. When you accepted orders to HSC-22, you put yourself in the history books. What we have accomplished, what you have accomplished, in this past year and a half will not be duplicable. You have worked tirelessly, you’ve innovated, and you’ve stayed motivated. Protect the culture we’ve built in this squadron, give it everything you’ve got, and you will be victorious. Once again, from the bottom of my heart, thank you.”

HSC-22’s mission is to deploy helicopter detachments for littoral combat ships, amphibious ready groups and combat logistics ships to perform naval special warfare, amphibious search and rescue, theater security cooperation, strike coordination and reconnaissance, anti-surface warfare, humanitarian assistance, and disaster relief and utility missions in support of the fleet and our national defense.