The VQ-2 Rangers held their first continental U.S. (CONUS) change of command ceremony in more than 50 years, May 26 as Cmdr. Michael P. Burns assumed command from Cmdr. Clayton A. Grindle. Rear Adm. Harry B. Harris Jr., commander, Joint Task Force, Guantanamo Bay, was guest speaker.

Clayton Grindle

VQ-2 was awarded the Battle “E” during Grindle’s tour. They also conducted a homeport change that relocated the command from Naval Station Rota, Spain to NAS Whidbey Island.

While moving the entire squadron in just three months, VQ-2 maintained operational deployment responsibilities in every major theatre around the globe. His guidance ensured a seamless relocation of 950 members and their dependants, 300 privately owned vehicles and more then 45 metric tons of furniture and equipment over a distance of 7,000 miles without a single ground or aviation mishap.

Grindle’s next duty assignment takes him to the Joint Staff in Washington D.C.

Michael Burns

Burns is a graduate of Villanova University who received his commission through NROTC in 1988. He entered the aviation training pipeline and was designated a naval flight officer in 1989.

Burns has done operational flying tours with VPU-1 and VQ-2 and a tour on USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN 72) as the ship’s electronic warfare officer.

While serving at VX-20, Burns flight-tested new mission avionics systems for the EP-3E and VPU aircraft. He was operations officer at VP-30, the P-3 Fleet Replacement Squadron, before his arrival at VQ-2.

Burns is married to the former Sheri Sencabaugh of Wilmington, Mass. They are the parents of Maribeth, Caroline, Erin, Joseph and Andrew. He is also a loyal Boston Red Sox fan.