Cmdr. George Vassilakis relieved Cmdr. Frederick Nielsen III yesterday as commanding officer of Patrol Squadron One. Rear Adm. Arthur J. Johnson, Commander Patrol and Reconnaissance Forces Seventh and Fifth Fleet, as well as Commander Fleet Air, Western Pacific, was guest speaker.

Patrol Squadron One reports to Patrol and Reconnaissance Wing 10 on NAS Whidbey Island and is currently deployed to Seventh Fleet in the Western Pacific. 

Nielsen served as commanding officer since April 2005, guided VP-1 through an intensive inter-deployment readiness cycle in preparation for the Seventh Fleet deployment. 

A native of Ann Arbor, Mich., he graduated from the University of Michigan with a bachelor’s degree in political science in December 1987. He was commissioned an Ensign through the NROTC program and earned his naval flight officer wings in August 1989.

Following training, he joined Patrol Squadron 19, qualifying as instructor TACCO and patrol plane mission commander before next serving as flag aide to Commander Patrol and Anti-Submarine Warfare Forces, U.S. Pacific Fleet.  Nielsen then joined Patrol Squadron One for his department head tour before serving as deputy executive assistant to the Director, Air Warfare (N78) on the Chief of Naval Operations Staff located in the Pentagon before attending the National War College in Washington D.C., where he received his masters of science degree in national security strategy.

Nielsen reported to VP-1 in 2004 and served as executive officer until 2005, when he assumed command. Nielsen will be reporting to Bureau of Naval Personnel as Commander Assignments VP/VQ.

Vassilakis is the 63rd commanding officer in the distinguished history of VP-1. A native of Morgantown, W. Va., he is married to the former Missy Smith of Jacksonville, Fla., and they have a daughter, Meagan.

Vassilakis attended the United States Naval Academy and was commissioned in 1988 and designated a Naval Flight Officer in 1989. He served in Patrol Squadron 24 as an instructor tactical coordinator and patrol plane mission commander before reporting to Commander Patrol Wings Atlantic and subsequently Commander Surveillance and Reconnaissance Forces, U.S. Sixth Fleet to serve as flag lieutenant.

He also served as assistant navigator onboard USS Kitty Hawk and VP aviation assignments officer for shore and sea detailing at the Bureau of Naval Personnel before reporting to the Mad Foxes of Patrol Squadron Five for his department head tour.

Following his tour in VP-5, he served as operations officer and chief staff officer for Commander Patrol and Reconnaissance Wing 11 before reporting in April 2005 to Patrol Squadron One as executive officer.

Cmdr. Askins has reported to Patrol Squadron One to serve as executive officer. A graduate of Auburn University, he completed flight training and was designated a naval flight officer in 1990.

Askins subsequently completed tours with VP-44, VP-8 and VP-30. After serving aboard USS John C. Stennis (CVN 74) as catapult and arresting gear officer, he reported to Commander, Patrol and Reconnaissance Forces Atlantic, where he served as administrative officer before attending the U.S. Naval War College where he obtained his master of arts degree in national security and strategic studies.

He joined Patrol Squadron 26 for his department head tour before being assigned to Commander, Patrol and Reconnaissance Wing 10 as training officer and operations officer.

He joined the deployable training team at the USJFCOM Joint Warfighting Center before reporting to Patrol Squadron One.

VP-1 is currently deployed to the Western Pacific, with detachments in Misawa and Kadena, Japan; Utapao, Thailand; Anderson AB, Guam; Clark AB, Philippines; and Pohang, South Korea.

The Screaming Eagles have flown over 750 hours in direct support of Operation Enduring Freedom-Philippines fighting the global war on terrorism. The squadron will continue to provide critical intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance of the region in support of the U.S. Naval presence in the Western Pacific before returning to Naval Air Station Whidbey Island later this summer.