The "Easyriders" of Helicopter Maritime Strike Squadron (HSM) 37 held a change of command ceremony at Marine Corps Base Hawaii July 9.

During the ceremony, Cmdr. Tony Chavez relieved Cmdr. Brannon S. Bickel as HSM-37's commanding officer.

During his tenure, Bickel led the "Easyriders" in deploying four combat-ready detachments in support of operations throughout the U.S. 3rd, 7th, and 4th Fleet areas of responsibility, in addition to a wide spectrum of successful external command inspections and exercises.

Bickel also oversaw the completion of the squadron's transition from Helicopter Anti-Submarine Squadron Light (HSL) to HSM with the retirement of the squadron's last SH-60B Sea Hawk helicopters and the receipt of 15 MH-60R Sea Hawk helicopters with advanced anti-submarine and anti-surface warfare capabilities.

Bickel was commissioned upon graduating from the U.S. Naval Academy in May 1997. He reported to HSM-37 in April 2013 as the squadron's executive officer before assuming the duties of commanding officer in June 2014. Bickel's next assignment is to the Bureau of Naval Personnel (PERS-431B) in Millington, Tennessee.

Chavez is the 33rd HSM-37 "Skipper" since the squadron's establishment in 1975.

Chavez enlisted in the Navy in 1990 as a submariner in nuclear submarines. He was commissioned upon graduation from Louisiana State University in 1997. He reported to HSM-37 in October 2014 as the squadron's executive officer.

Following the ceremony, Cmdr. Teague Suarez assumed the duties of HSM-37's executive officer. Suarez was commissioned upon graduating from the U.S. Naval Academy in 1998. He previously served as an action officer for reconnaissance operations on the Joint Staff.

As the only helicopter maritime strike squadron in the Middle Pacific (MIDPAC) region, HSM-37 provides a variety of helicopter services to MIDPAC-based combatant ships and submarines in addition to deploying operational detachments. HSM-37 detachments support all Pearl Harbor-based Arleigh Burke-class destroyers and Ticonderoga-class cruisers throughout the Western Pacific and Indian Oceans.

The MH-60R's primary missions are surface warfare and anti-submarine warfare prosecution through utilization of AGM-114 Hellfire missiles and MK-46/54 torpedoes. Secondary missions include search and rescue, medical evacuation, vertical replenishment, Naval surface fire support, and communications relay, command, control, communications, and command and control warfare.

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