Dwyer to take helm as Chief of Naval Air Training

Chief of Naval Air Training (CNATRA) will hold a change of command ceremony on board Naval Air Station Corpus Christi July 26 at 9 a.m.

Rear Adm. Daniel “Dozer” Dwyer will relieve Rear Adm. Gregory “Hyfi” Harris as the Chief of Naval Air Training during an in-air ceremony above NAS Corpus Christi followed by a ground-based ceremony in Hangar 42.

The Naval Air Training Command conducts and oversees all pilot and naval flight officer training for the Navy, Marine Corps, Coast Guard, and international partners throughout five training air wings located in three states. It also oversees the Navy Flight Demonstration Squadron, the Blue Angels.

Harris, a 1987 graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy, was designated a Naval Flight Officer in 1989 and subsequently a Naval Aviator in 1993. He has served both on shore and at sea, most recently as commander of the Nimitz Carrier Strike Group (CSG11). He has served as CNATRA since July 2018 and will report to the Pentagon in Washington, D.C. as the director of Air Warfare at Office of the Chief of Naval Operations (OPNAV N98).

Dwyer is a 1988 graduate of the California Maritime Academy and was designated a Naval Aviator in 1992. He has served both on shore and at sea, most recently as commander of the Theodore Roosevelt Carrier Strike Group (CSG9) in San Diego. There, he commanded more than 7,000 Sailors across nine ships. He will assume command of CNATRA July 26.

The guest speaker for the ceremony will be Vice Adm. John D. Alexander, Commander, U.S. 3rd Fleet headquartered in San Diego.