The command of the Black Ravens of Electronic Attack Squadron (VAQ) 135 recently changed hands in a recent aerial change of command ceremony as Cmdr. Brent Breining relieved Cmdr. Timothy Reynolds as commanding officer of the squadron. The Black Ravens are currently deployed with USS Nimitz (CVN 68) in the Western Pacific Ocean. 

Reynolds’ next assignment will be with the North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) in Colorado Springs, Colo.

The exhilarating ceremony consisted of two EA-6B Prowlers and one F/A-18F Super Hornet performing three flybys.

Cmdr. Reynolds led the first flyby while Cmdr. Breining flew off his right wing with Lt. Cmdr. Trevor Estes as the pilot. Excitement filled the air as Black Raven aircrew and Sailors stood on the flight deck anxiously awaiting the jets’ arrival.

Just seconds before the formation reached the ship observers spotted black specks on the horizon with wispy gray trails of smoke. As the jets flew quickly up the port side of the Nimitz, Reynolds passed the lead and then command to Breining, whose aircraft led the next flyby.

The final flyby was led by Capt. Thomas Downing, commander, Carrier Air Wing 11, with a Prowler on each wing. As they screamed by the carrier at 500 knots and 200 feet, the two Prowlers broke up and to the outside as the Super Hornet pulled the aircraft into the sky for an Immelmann aerobatic maneuver.

Back on board Nimitz, Reynolds received handshakes and congratulatory remarks from Sailors, aircrew, and fellow officers. Breining was given handshakes and good luck wishes as he assumed command of VAQ-135 for the next 15 months. 

A native of Naperville, Ill., Breining graduated from the University of Michigan in 1990 with a bachelor’s degree in political science. He was commissioned an ensign through the Naval Reserve Officer Training Corps and was designated a Naval Flight Officer in October 1991.

His most recent assignment was with the U.S. Special Operations Command at MacDill Air Force Base, Fla. where he was assigned as the Flying Hour Program office chief where he directed the efforts of five officers and five civilians in administering a $2.6 billion flying hour program encompassing 298 Special Operations Forces aircraft flying 93,000 hours annually in support of 2,600 aircrew.

Breining has logged over 2,300 flight hours and 555 carrier arrested landings on six different carriers. He and his wife reside in Oak Harbor with their son.

Cmdr. Hunter Ware has assumed the position of Black Ravens executive officer.