Helicopter Sea Combat Weapon School, U.S. Pacific Fleet (HSCWSP), held a change of command ceremony June 19 at Naval Air Station North Island.

During the ceremony, Cmdr. Gregory D. Mendenhall relieved Cmdr. Wilmer B. Gange as commander, HSCWSP.

Gange, a native of Addison, Illinois, is a 1996 graduate of the University of Southern California. As commander of HSCWSP, Gange led a workforce of 17 officers and 19 enlisted personnel that managed the tactical training and standardization of nine geographically dispersed fleet squadrons and a fleet replacement squadron.

During a dynamic period of change in the Helicopter Sea Combat (HSC) community, Gange oversaw the development of detachments from HSC expeditionary squadrons aboard littoral combat ships (LCS) to include the implementation of the MQ-8B Fire Scout, as well as the development of organic aibrone mine countermeasures tactics for the MH-60S Seahawk helicopter.

Gange's next assignment will be as the liaison officer for Helicopter Sea Combat Wing, U.S. Atlantic Fleet, stationed in Manama, Bahrain.

Mendenhall, a native of Poway, California, is a 1997 graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy. At sea, his career as a naval aviator includes assignments with Helicopter Anti-Submarine Squadron (HS) 2 aboard USS Constellation (CV 64) in support of Operations Southern Watch and Iraqi Freedom; H-60R/S Fleet Introduction Team, U.S. 7th Fleet; HS-6 aboard USS Nimitz (CVN 68) in support of Operation Enduring Freedom; and serving on the joint staff at the National Military Command Center. In May 2014, Mendenhall reported to HSCWSP as the executive officer.

The mission of HSCWSP is to increase the warfighting capabilities of Pacific Fleet HSC squadrons and ensure they deploy battle-ready in all tactical mission areas through implementation of standardized tactical curricula and exercises designed to improve overall combat effectiveness.

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