Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron (HSC) 21 held a change of command ceremony at the squadron’s hangar aboard Naval Air Station North Island, San Diego, Nov. 1.
During the ceremony, Cmdr. John D. Reardon relieved Cmdr. Gregory J. Leland as commanding officer of HSC-21.
Since Leland, a native of Marlborough, Mass., assumed command of HSC-21 on Dec. 6, 2012, he has overseen the training for numerous squadron detachments with various commands, allowing flight crew personnel to practice the squadron’s diverse mission set. He also oversaw work-ups for and the deployment of a detachment of two helicopters aboard USS Boxer (LHD 4). Leland’s next assignment will be as the commanding officer of HSC-25 in Guam.
Reardon, a native of Falmouth, Mass., assumed command of HSC-21 after serving as the executive officer of HSC-21 since Dec. 6, 2012. Reardon was commissioned in 1996 through the Navy Reserve Officer Training Corps program at Cornell University, where he also obtained a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology.
HSC-21’s mission is to provide all-weather, vertical lift, and combat-ready aircraft and crews to U.S. 7th and 5th Fleet areas of responsibility. Flying the MH-60S Seahawk, HSC-21 detachments provide tactical and logistical support, as well as search and rescue and humanitarian assistance capabilities, to the fleet.
[mappress] Press Release, November 04, 2013; Image: Navy