Maritime Support Wing Holds Change of Command

Capt. Quentin Packard was relieved by Capt. Edward Hoak as commodore of Maritime Support Wing (MSW) in a ceremony at Naval Base Coronado, Calif., Mar. 3.

Current and retired Sailors of Commander, Naval Air Force Reserve (CNAFR) traveled from around the country to join MSW Sailors in celebrating the end and beginning of Packard’s and Hoak’s respective tours in the courtyard of the World Famous I-Bar.

Rear Adm. Scott Jones, CNAFR, spoke as the ceremony’s guest speaker.

“[Packard] and [Hoak] have dedicated every single hour of every single day of every single month of their entire adult lives since they were 22 years old to do this,” said Jones, before turning to address the two captains directly. “You are the profession of arms. You are the United States Navy, and I’m prouder of you than I could say.”

 Jones went on to speak on his experience working with Packard.

“I was talking to [Packard] yesterday at his check out interview,” said Jones. “When I think of [Packard], the picture I have in my mind of him is when he took over an already highly functional MSW, it was like walking into a gymnasium and watching the lights click on from one end to another and seeing a court filled with all-star players.”

After thanking Packard for his outstanding service as MSW commodore, for which Packard would later in the cermony be recognized with a Legion of Merit award, Jones then described his initial meeting with Hoak.

“Ed came in yesterday and handed me a diagram of how he was going to proceed with the leadership of MSW, including goals with metrics,” said Jones. “He is a winner’s winner, and that’s exactly what I expect from leaders in our organization.”

Packard, who is preparing to check into his new duty station at the Pentagon, spoke next, addressing the MSW staff.

“To the MSW staff, Capt. Hoak is a phenomenal and compassionate leader, and I know that you and the wing are in excellent hands,” said Packard. “I’ll be honest in saying that despite the exciting new opportunities that I really am looking forward to, what saddens me is leaving you. In what is very likely my last opportunity to command, you have made it a blessing, and you have made it easy. I wish you all the best.”

Once Packard finished his goodbyes, the ceremony proceeded, and he was officially relieved.

Among Hoak’s first words as MSW commodore were a heartfelt thank you to his predecessor for his leadership and for setting him up for success.

“Capt. Packard, on behalf of the men and women of MSW, our four RESFORONs and six augment units, I want to thank you for being an amazing commodore with overarching leadership and unmatched professional disposition, attributes only topped by your resolve and commitment to excellence,” said Hoak.

 “MSW staff, I’m excited - I’m really excited,” Hoak continued. “I’ve been impressed by the level of professionalism and absolute dedication to mission from the day I stepped foot on Coronado at MSW. What you and our squadrons do on a daily basis is not only extraordinary but also critical for our United States Navy and our nation. I am both honored and humbled to serve as your commodore. I look forward to continuing to serve with each of you and capitalizing on the many successes that were achieved under [Packard’s] watch.”

Maritime Support Wing is a Navy Reserve Air Wing comprised of rotary and patrol units. MSW’s rotary units provide the Navy’s only dedicated Special Operations Forces (SOF) support as well as strategic depth in helicopter maritime strike and airborne mine countermeasures. MSW’s patrol units, slated to transition from the P-3 Orion to the P-8 Poseidon in fiscal year 2022, provide enduring Littoral Surveillance Radar System (LSRS) and Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) operational support to the fleet.