NAVAL AIR STATION SIGONELLA, Sicily –
Capt. Brian J. Schneider, from Long Island, New York, relieved Capt. Bryan P. Hager, from Bangs, Texas, as commodore, Commander, Task Force (CTF) 67, during a change of command ceremony at Naval Air Station Sigonella, Italy, Aug. 1, 2024.
“Commodore Hager has been an inspiration to us all. You are passionate about people and I am humbled to take the reins from you,” said Schneider. “I am more than thrilled to inherit this legacy of work and join in this high-functioning team to carry out your joint interoperable vision of theater patrol, reconnaissance and surveillance into the future. You’ve built a truly world-class organization, one that I am proud to be a part of. You’ve raised the bar, you’ve set it high, and now it’s my job to carry it.”
Hager assumed command of CTF-67 in June 2022. During his tenure, Hager was responsible for providing Naval Maritime Air Forces for two geographic combatant commanders. He deployed helicopters homeported in Rota, Spain, and Maritime Patrol and Reconnaissance forces deployed to Keflavik, Iceland, Souda, Crete and Sigonella, Sicily to support and defend allies and partners, and deter adversaries.
Guest speakers during the ceremony included Vice Adm. Thomas Ishee and Rear Adm. Steve Mack, from U.S. 6th Fleet, who both congratulated Hager on his noteworthy accomplishments and welcomed Schneider to the team.
Ishee is commander of U.S. 6th Fleet and also serves as commander, Task Force 6, commander, Striking and Support Forces NATO. Mack serves as director of Maritime Operations, U.S. Naval Forces Europe-Africa, and commander, Submarine Group 8.
Schneider most recently served as the Maritime Patrol Aviation Commander Assignments/detailer and the Aviation Captain Assignments officer at Navy Personnel Command in Millington, Tennessee.
CTF-67 is responsible for command and tactical control of deployed maritime patrol and reconnaissance squadrons throughout the European and African areas of responsibility.
U.S. 6th Fleet, headquartered in Naples, Italy, conducts the full spectrum of joint and naval operations, often in concert with allied and interagency partners, in order to advance U.S. national interests and security and stability in Europe and Africa.
For more news from Commander, U.S. Naval Forces Europe-Africa/U.S. 6th Fleet, visit www.c6f.navy.mil.
For more news and information from NAS Sigonella, visit https://cnreurafcent.cnic.navy.mil/Installations/NAS-Sigonella/ or https://www.facebook.com/nassigonella/.