Helicopter Anti-Submarine Squadron Light (HSL) 49 held a change of command ceremony at Naval Air Station North Island in Coronado Feb. 26.
At the ceremony, Cmdr. Bobby E. Brown relieved Cmdr. Jason E. Rimmer as the commanding officer of the “Scorpions” of HSL-49.
Rimmer, a native of Sherman, Texas, is a 1995 graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy. As commander of HSL-49, Rimmer led a squadron of more than 250 personnel and 12 SH-60B Sea Hawk helicopters. During his tenure, he deployed five detachments and led HSL-49 to complete more than 35,000 mishap-free flight hours.
Brown, a native of Mobile, Alabama, is a 1997 graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy. At sea, his career as a naval aviator includes assignments with HSL-46 aboard USS Gettysburg (CG 64) and USS Oscar Austin (DDG 79). He also served as the training and education resource manager in the N1/ NT branch of the OPNAV staff, as the aircraft handling officer aboard the USS Wasp (LHD 1), as an officer-in-charge of an HSL-37 detachment aboard USS Chung-Hoon (DDG 93), and as HSL-37’s maintenance officer. Before reporting to HSL-49, Brown served as the Navy’s military aide to the Vice President of the U.S. from 2010 to November 2013.
Cmdr. Robert Kimnach, a 1998 graduate of University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill, reported as HSL-49’s executive officer.
HSL-49 is scheduled to transition to the MH-60R Sea Hawk helicopter following the sundown of the SH-60B Sea Hawk in spring 2015.
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Image: US Navy