Schmeiser

Naval District Washington Commandant Rear Adm. Patrick Lorge is the keynote speaker. Macyko’s next assignment is as military director for AIR 4.5, the competency that deals with avionics here.

Schmeiser is currently Pax River’s executive officer, having served in that position since 2008. He came to Pax River as Battle Force Seventh Fleet Assistant Chief of Staff for Materiel and Logistics onboard USS Kitty Hawk (CV-63), forward deployed to Yokosuka, Japan.

A native of Massapequa, Long Island, N.Y., Schmeiser graduated from the College of the Holy Cross with a bachelor of arts degree in chemistry in 1984. He completed Aviation Officer Candidate School training and was commissioned an ensign in March 1985. Completing primary flight training at NAS Corpus Christi, Texas in June 1986, he was awarded his pilot ‘‘wings of gold” in July 1986.

Reporting to VAW-120, the East Coast Fleet Replacement Squadron (FRS), in Aug. 1986 for training in the E-2C Hawkeye, Schmeiser completed the FRS syllabus and reported to VAW-122 Steeljaws in Sept. 1987. He served as schedules officer, aircraft division officer, pilot NATOPS officer, and squadron LSO during his tour. He completed two extended deployments aboard USS Forrestal (CV-59) and two Northern Wedding exercises. During the Indian Ocean deployment in 1988, he participated in flight operations in support of Earnest Will Operations (reflagged Kuwaiti oil tankers). He earned his AIRLANT Wing LSO qualification in March 1990.

Schmeiser attended the U.S. Naval Test Pilot School as part of Class 99, completing the engineering test pilot syllabus in June 1991. Reporting to Force Warfare Test Directorate in July 1991, he served as the T-56A-427 engine and GPS⁄MFCDU Project Officer. He is co-holder of nine altitude and airspeed world records in the T-56A-427 powered E-2C Plus aircraft and assisted in the development of new techniques evaluating Vmc (dynamic minimum controlled airspeed) for the E-2C Plus aircraft.

Receiving orders to VAW-125 in Nov. 1993, Schmeiser served as the assistant operations officer. He completed an extended deployment to the Mediterranean from Jan.-June 1994 aboard USS Saratoga (CV-60). During this deployment, he conducted 22 flights over Bosnia-Herzegovina in support of Operation Deny Flight and Provide Promise.

Selected for aerospace engineering duty in May 1995, Schmeiser has served in numerous acquisition roles at the Naval Air Systems Command: from May 1995-October 1998 as the VAW department head and PMA-231 assistant program manager for test and evaluation at the Naval Force Aircraft Test Squadron; from Oct. 1998-July 2000 as an IPT Lead for the E-2C replacement propeller program in the E-2C⁄C-2A Program Office (PMA-231); from July 2000-February 2004 as the E-2C⁄C-2A class desk officer; and from Feb. 2004-Aug. 2006 as the deputy program manager for development programs in PMA-280, the Tomahawk Weapon System Program Office.

Receiving orders to National Defense University in Aug. 2006, Schmeiser attended the Industrial College of the Armed Forces. He successfully completed the senior service course concurrently with the Senior Acquisition Course (PMT-401⁄402) in June 2007 and earned a master of science degree in national resource strategy and full JPME phase I and II credit.

He reported to Commander, Strike Group Five onboard USS Kitty Hawk that August. As Battle Force Seventh Fleet Assistant Chief of Staff for Materiel and Logistics (N4), Schmeiser was responsible for all shipboard maintenance, maintenance training, casualty tracking, readiness, aircraft maintenance, and supply issues for 10 ships and Carrier Air Wing 5.

Schmeiser has accumulated over 3,500 flight hours in 20 different aircraft and 291 arrested landings and was a U.S. Navy select for the NASA astronaut program. His decorations include the Meritorious Service Medal, Air Medal, Navy Commendation Medal, Navy Achievement Medal, Meritorious Unit Commendation, National Service Ribbon, Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal, Sea Service Ribbons, and Expert Pistol Medal.

He is married to the former Molly O’Brien Daly of Lockport, N.Y. They have two daughters, Keara and Maura. His hobbies include golf, swimming, and tennis.

The change of command ceremony holds a long and revered history and tradition in the Navy. It was established to allow people within the command to witness the change of command as it occurs and have confidence in the new command. The ceremony also allows time to recognize and celebrate the outgoing commander’s achievements and to welcome the new leadership.