The Signature | July 20, 2018

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DoD Makes Transferability Changes to Post-9/11 GI Bill PAGE 7

Navy Expands Approved Female Hairstyles in New Uniform Policy

Safety Office Offering AAA Driver Improvement Course

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N A S SIG O N E L L A

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JULY 20, 2018

Vol. 35 No. 28

Commander, Task Force 67 Change of Command

SIGONELLA, Sicily (July 11, 2018) Capt. William Ellis, left, and Capt. William Pennington, Commodore, Task Force (CTF) 67, cut a cake during the CTF-67 change of command ceremony onboard Naval Air Station (NAS) Sigonella. NAS Sigonella is an operational ashore base that enables U.S., allied, and partner nation forces to be where they are needed and when they are needed to ensure security and stability in Europe, Africa, and Southwest Asia. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Christopher Gordon) By Lt. Brian F. O’Bannon Commander, Task Force 67 Public Affairs Officer Photos by MC2 Christopher Gordon NAS Sigonella Public Affairs

SIGONELLA, Sicily. (NAS) -- Capt. William C. Pennington relieved Capt. William R. Ellis as Commodore of Commander, Task Force 67 (CTF-67) during a change of command ceremony held on Jul 11 at Naval Air Station (NAS) Sigonella, Sicily. Commodore Ellis commanded CTF-67 from August 2016 - July 2018 and is moving to Hawaii to serve as the Director of the new Maritime Operations Center of Commander, Submarine Force, United States Pacific Fleet. “The changes in our staff have coincided with a huge spike in our tempo,” said Ellis of his two years as Commodore of CTF-67. “We are executing from the horn of Africa to the Eastern Mediterranean to the high North. If submarines get underway, we follow where they go.” In attendance was guest speaker Vice Admiral

Lisa M. Franchetti, commander of United States Sixth Fleet and Naval Striking and Support Forces NATO. CTF-67 serves as Commander of all United States Maritime Patrol Aircraft in the Sixth Fleet Area of Responsibility including P-8As, P-3Cs, EP-3s, and MH-60s. “Thanks to his efforts we are postured and ready to conduct the full spectrum of operations across Europe and Africa,” said Franchetti of Commodore Ellis. “Presence, especially that provided by our forward deployed forces, gives our national security decision makers lots of options and you provide those options every day.” During Ellis’s command, CTF-67 was supported by five operational deployments from Patrol Squadrons Five, Ten, Sixteen, and Forty Five from NAS Jacksonville, Florida, and Four from Marine Corps Air Station Kaneohe Bay, Hawaii; multiple detachments from Fleet Air Reconnaissance Squadron One, Patrol Squadron One, and Patrol Squadron Forty from Whidbey Island, Wash.; and one detachment from Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron

Eighty Five from NAS North Island, Coronado. Under Capt. Ellis’ command, CTF-67 saw multiple Theater Anti-Submarine Warfare operations throughout the area of responsibility, supported operations Sea Guardian, Atlantic Resolve, Enduring Freedom, and Inherent Resolve including two United States Aircraft Carriers conducting strikes from the Mediterranean. CTF-67 also supported multi-national allied exercises including Baltops, Dynamic Manta, Dynamic Mongoose and the Black Sea trio of Breeze, Sea Shield, and Sea Breeze. Capt. Pennington assumed command of Commander, Task Force 67 after serving as MultiMission Aircraft and Programs Branch Head plus P-3/P-8 Requirements Officer at OPNAV N98 through 2017. Previously, he served as Commanding Officer of the “War Eagles” of Patrol Squadron Sixteen from 2013-2014, leading them on the maiden P-8A Poseidon deployment. He graduated from the United States Naval Academy in 1996 with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Weapons and Systems Engineering.


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The Signature | July 20, 2018 by NAS Sigonella Signature - Issuu