NAVAL AIR STATION WHIDBEY ISLAND, Wash. -- Commander David S. Sweet relieved Cmdr. Richard B. Killian during a change of command ceremony for the Center for Naval Aviation Technical Training Unit (CNATTU) Whidbey Island at the Chief’s Club aboard Naval Air Station Whidbey Island March 10.

Captain Vence Logan, CNATT commanding officer, presided over the event and was the guest speaker.  The unit’s staff witnessed the ceremony, bidding farewell to Killian as he addressed the Sailors and civilians for a final time. During his remarks before turning over command, Killian thanked the CNATTU Whidbey Island staff for their support during his tour as commanding officer.
 
Killian held his retirement ceremony directly after the change of command ceremony ending both his tour as commanding officer and his 35 years of service in the Navy.  Killian enlisted in the U.S. Navy in February 1987 as an aviation antisubmarine warfare technician. In 1997, he was promoted to chief petty officer and in 2000 was commissioned under the Limited Duty Officer (LDO) program. In attendance was his family including his wife, parents, and his son who is currently enlisted in the Navy as a hospital corpsmen.
 
Sweet, who previously served as CNATTU Whidbey Island's executive officer, read his orders and relieved Killian as commanding officer. His wife pinned on his command pin. Sweet enlisted in the Navy in June 1989 as an aviation electronics technician (AT) and completed recruit training in San Diego, California.  In 2001, he was promoted to chief petty officer and in 2003 was commissioned under the LDO program.

Cmdr. Keith W. King will assume duties as CNATTU Whidbey Island's executive officer.
 
CNATTU Whidbey Island is a training unit of the Center for Naval Aviation Technical Training located at Naval Air Station Pensacola, Florida.  CNATTU Whidbey Island provides initial rate “A” school and advanced career “C” school training on the EA-18G, P-3C and EP-3E aircraft, as well as training in Micro-Miniature Repair (2M), Senior Enlisted Aviation Maintenance (SEAM) and Flight Deck Fire Fighting.