Capt. Gregory Jay Johnston will relieve Capt. Gerral K. David as Commanding Officer, Naval Air Station Whidbey Island at 10 a.m., Friday, Aug. 13 in a formal ceremony at Haviland Hangar.

“We’ve been the Number 1 Naval Air Station in the entire Navy for the last two years,” said David in recognition of Team Whidbey’s hard work which encompasses 50-plus tenant commands. “We were also recently voted as the Best Place to Work in a Whidbey News-Times survey, and won the Department of Defense Pollution Prevention Award last year.”

David thanks the military and civilian personnel who work on base and the community of Oak Harbor that support the air station saying it’s the “spirit of Team Whidbey” that makes the difference.  He and wife, Anne, now head to California for a new job as Commanding Officer of Naval Support Activity, Monterey.

Johnston hails from Durham, N.C. He is a 1983 graduate of North Carolina State University with a bachelor of science degree in computer science. Johnston received his commission through Aviation Officer Candidate School in 1985 and was designated a Naval Aviator in June 1986.

Subsequent tours were Helicopter Antisubmarine Squadron Light 32, flying the SH-2F; transition to A-6E Intruder at Attack Squadron (VA) 42, NAS Oceana, Va.; VA-36 “Roadrunners;” Training Squadron 7, flying the TA-4J Skyhawk, Meridian, Miss.; and transition to EA-6B Prowler at Electronic Attack Squadron (VAQ) 129 and VAQ-141 “Shadowhawks” at NAS Whidbey Island.

Johnston served on the Chief of Naval Operations staff as Aviation Officer Community Manager in the Military Personnel Plans and Policy Division and as on-site Navy representative for the Joint Mortuary Operations Center responsible for the recovery of deceased victims from the terrorist attack on the Pentagon.

Returning to Whidbey Island, Johnston served as the Executive Officer for VAQ-128 “Fighting Phoenix” prior to its disestablishment in 2004, then served as Executive and Commanding Officer for VAQ-134 “Garudas.” His last fleet tour was with USS John C. Stennis (CVN 74) as the Operations Officer. Johnston’s most recent position was with the U.S. Joint Forces Command J7, Joint Warfighting Center as the Chief of the Training Development Group, Programs Division.

Johnston has logged over 5,000 flight hours and has flown 236 combat missions in support of Operations Enduring Freedom, Iraqi Freedom, Allied Force, Southern Watch and Deny Flight. His personal decorations include four Meritorious Service Medals, 13 Air Medals, three Navy Commendation Medals, Navy Achievement Medal, Combat Action Ribbon as well as numerous other campaign and unit awards. He and his family look forward to re-establishing residence in Oak Harbor.