VF–213 Welcomes New Commanding Officer
Story Number: NNS051020-11
Release Date: 10/20/2005 2:01:00 PM
By Journalist 1st Class Daniel A. Bristol, USS Theodore Roosevelt Public Affairs
USS THEODORE ROOSEVELT (NNS) -- USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN 71) and Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 8’s Fighter Squadron (VF) 213 “Black Lions” welcomed Cmdr. Dan Cave as their new commanding officer Oct. 16 in an airborne change of command ceremony while flying F-14D Tomcats.
Cave relieved Cmdr. Brian Kocher as they performed a fly-by past TR. The two Tomcats flew side-by-side as they approached the ship.
The tour as CO of a squadron is normally 15 months, and starts with a tour as the squadron’s executive officer (XO) for 15 months before taking command.
“It’s a bittersweet feeling,” said Cave. “As the XO, you look forward to what you can accomplish as the CO, and now that I made it to this point, I don’t want it to end.”
Cave said he is looking toward a successful deployment for VF-213 personnel, and he plans to bring everyone home safely. Once they return from deployment, Cave will start VF-213’s transition from flying F-14D Tomcats to flying F/A-18F Super Hornets.
Before coming to VF-213, Cave graduated from The National War College at Fort McNair, Wash., with a Master of Science degree in National Security and Strategic Studies. Prior to obtaining his Master’s degree, he worked as the aide to the Commandant of the Marine Corps, a job he was hand-selected for while stationed at Supreme Allied Command Atlantic in Norfolk, Va.
Cave flew F-14Ds from TR’s flight deck during operations in Kosovo (1998) and in Bosnia (1995). In between these two tours, Cave instructed new pilots on the F-14 and acted as the tactics phase leader for VF-101 “Grim Reapers” out of Naval Air Station, Oceana.
He flew in operations from USS John F. Kennedy’s (CV 67) flight deck in support of operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm also while stationed with VF-101 as an ensign.
Kocher has transferred to USS Carl Vinson (CVN 70) and will be working as the ship's operations officer.
The TR Carrier Strike Group is currently on deployment in support of Maritime Security Operations, setting the conditions for security and stability in the Persian Gulf region, which will help provide the Iraqi people the opportunity for self-determination.
