The "Fighting Swordsmen" of Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 32 conducted an airborne change of command ceremony above the aircraft carrier USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN 69) (Ike) in the Arabian Gulf, Sept. 7.

Cmdr. R. Wade Blizzard relieved Cmdr. Tracey J. Gendreau as commanding officer.

Accompanied by the commander of Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 3, Capt. Jeffrey Anderson, Blizzard and Gendreau flew in F/A-18F Super Hornets.

Gendreau, a 1995 graduate of Metropolitan State College of Denver, expressed his gratitude to the squadron.

"I'm extremely proud of the pride, purpose and professionalism of the Swordsmen throughout this tour," Gendreau said. "Gypsy Roll!"

He will head to the aircraft carrier USS George H. W. Bush (CVN 77) as operations officer for his next assignment.

A native of Pensacola, Florida, Gendreau commissioned in 1997 through Officer Candidate School and was winged as a naval aviator in 1999.

He completed operational tours with the "Black Aces" of Fighter Squadron (VF) and VFA-41, deploying aboard USS Enterprise (CVN 65) in support of Operation Southern Watch and the first combat sorties in support of Operation Enduring Freedom (OEF) in 2001 and aboard USS Nimitz (CVN 68) in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF) in 2003; the staff of CVW-11, deploying aboard Nimitz in support of OEF and OIF in 2007 and in support of commander, U.S. 7th Fleet's regional objectives in 2008. He reported back to the "Black Aces" for his department head tour in 2008, deploying aboard Nimitz once again in support of OEF.

Gendreau has accumulated more than 3,000 flight hours and 830 arrested landings.

A 1998 graduate of the U. S. Naval Academy, Blizzard was humbled to begin his command tour of the Fighting Swordsmen.

"I am honored to take command of the Swordsmen of VFA-32, an organization with dedicated Sailors who selflessly execute the mission with no expectation of recognition or payback," Blizzard said. "I am humbled to be their commanding officer and thankful to the American people for entrusting me with our most treasured assets, your sons and daughters. They are the heartbeat of this organization and they are the true American heroes."

Blizzard thanked his family for their continued support.

"I could not have made it to where I am today without my wife, Courtney, who is the rock of our family, the foundation upon which all else is built," he said. "Without her support, understanding and, at times, forgiveness I would not be where I am today."

Blizzard, a native of Frederick, Maryland, earned his wings of gold in January 2000. He served with the "Blacklions" of VF-213, embarking on two deployments with CVW-11 aboard USS Carl Vinson (CVN 70) in 2001 in support of OEF and with CVW-8 aboard USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN 71) in 2003 in support of OIF. He reported to VFA-122 for a transition to the F/A-18F Super Hornet and joined the "Black Aces" of VFA-41 in January 2007, deploying with CVW-11 aboard USS Nimitz (CVN 68) in 2007 in support of OEF and OIF, and again in 2008 in support of U.S. 7th Fleet operations. In August 2009, he reported to the "Redcocks" of VFA-22, deploying with CVW-14 aboard USS Ronald Reagan (CVN 76) in support of OEF in 2009 and with CVW-17 aboard USS Carl Vinson (CVN 70) in support of OEF and Operation New Dawn in 2011.

Ashore, he reported to Top Gun with follow-on orders to the Strike Fighter Weapon School in Lemoore, California, where he became the subject matter expert in F/A-18 strike fighter missions. He served at U.S. Northern Command as the Mexico desk officer for the Theater Security Cooperation division before becoming executive officer of VFA-32 in June 2015.

He has accumulated more than 2,400 flight hours and over 500 carrier arrestments.

Cmdr. Stacy L. Uttecht assumed duties as the squadron's executive officer.

VFA-32 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 ships 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).

CVW-3 consists of VFA-32, the "Sidewinders" of VFA-86, the "Gunslingers" of VFA-105, the "Wildcats" of VFA-131, the "Dusty Dogs" of Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron (HSC) 7, the "Swamp Foxes" of Helicopter Maritime Strike Squadron (HSM) 74, the "Screwtops" of Airborne Early Warning Squadron (VAW) 123, the "Zappers" of Electronic Attack Squadron (VAQ) 130 and the "Rawhides" of Fleet Logistics Support Squadron (VRC) 40.

Ike CSG is deployed in support of Operation Inherent Resolve, maritime security operations and theater security cooperation efforts in the U.S. 5th and 6th Fleet areas of operations.

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