Cmdr. Ronald Reis, commanding officer of VAQ-132 Scorpions, changed command while operating in the Arabian Gulf on Oct. 16. Reis assumed command in August of 2003 and led the EA-6B squadron through several detachments and a combat deployment.

Cmdr. Randolph Pierson took command of the squadron during an in-flight change of command.

The Scorpions, part of Carrier Air Wing 17 and the John F. Kennedy

Strike Group, left their homeport of Whidbey Island, Wash., June 7 for a regularly scheduled deployment to the U.S. Navy’s Fifth Fleet area of responsibility. While in the Arabian Gulf, VAQ-132 is operating in the Middle East region as part of Operation Iraqi Freedom. Units in the

Kennedy Strike Group are working closely with Multi-National Corps-Iraq and Iraqi forces to bring stability to the sovereign government of Iraq.