Cmdr. Bryan Durkee relieved Cmdr. Brett Coffey as commanding officer of Fleet Air Reconnaissance Squadron (VQ) 2, in a ceremony, April 23 at 11 a.m. on NAS Whidbey Island.

Under Coffey’s leadership, VQ-2 flew more than 580 missions encompassing more than 5,560 hours, serving in Operations Iraqi Freedom, Enduring Freedom, Nomad Shadow, Reliant Mermaid, Inca Gold, Plan Patriota, Celestial Balance, and numerous fleet exercises.

During his tenure as commanding officer, and in addition to executing over 15,500 mishap-free flight hours, VQ-2 won the 2009 Chief of Naval Operations Aviation Safety “S” Award and the Medical Blue “M” Award.

Coffey, a 1992 Naval Academy graduate, will now head east to pursue a master’s degree at the Industrial College of the Armed Forces located in Washington, D.C. 

A native of Billings, Okla., Durkee reported to the Naval Reserve Officer Training Corps at the University of Oklahoma in August of 1989. Graduating with a bachelor’s degree in political science in June 1993, he reported for primary flight training in Pensacola, Fla. and in June 1997, was designated a Naval Aviator at NAS Corpus Christi, Texas.

Durkee attended Joint Aviation Electronic Warfare School, NTTC Corry Station, Fla. and initial EP-3 flight training with VP-31 at NAS Jacksonville, Fla. Upon completion, he reported to Fleet Air Reconnaissance Squadron (VQ) 2 in Rota, Spain where he led multiple detachments throughout the European theater, qualifying as Mission Commander and Instructor Pilot.

He has flow combat missions in support of Operation Allied Force in Kosovo and Operation Northern Watch in Incirlik, Turkey.

Durkee reported to the Naval War College in Newport, R.I., graduating in June 2004. He reported to VP-30 for EP-3 refresher training, then headed to VQ-1 at NAS Whidbey Island, serving various department head assignments, flying missions in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom and serving as the Commander Task Group 72.5 Officer in Charge at Kadena Air Base, Japan.

In December 2006, Durkee reported to U.S. Northern Command at Peterson Air Force Base, Colo. where he served as the Maritime Plans Officer for Theater Security Cooperation. In preparation for Executive Officer duties with VQ-2, he reported to Commander Patrol and Reconnaissance Wing 10 in March 2009.