VT-27 changes hands aboard Lexington

Lt. Greggory Hase

Training Squadron 27 Public Affairs

Cmdr. David Wegmueller relinquished command of the “Boomers” of Training Squadron (VT) 27 to Cmdr. Jeffrey Shanahan during a ceremony aboard USS Lexington Museum on the Bay (CV 16) in Corpus Christi, Sept. 6.

Capt. Kevin Delano, commodore of Training Air Wing (TW) 4, presided over the ceremony, attended by staff and family members.

Wegmueller, a native of Monroe, Wisc., is a 2000 graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy and earned his designation as a naval aviator in 2001. He has been in command of VT-27 since June 2018 and will proceed to TW-4 following the ceremony. Under the command of Wegmueller, VT-27 flew more than 21,000 flight hours, executed 12,871 sorties and graduated more than 250 students. The squadron’s students achieved the lowest failure rate in follow-on training pipelines of any primary training squadron. Wegmueller has personally accrued more than 2,500 flight hours in multiple naval aircraft, including 670 hours in the T-6B Texan II.

“I am deeply grateful for the opportunity to have served as commanding officer of VT-27,” Wegmueller said. “I have loved being part of the Boomer family, and I am proud of them. They are among the finest and hardest-working professionals in Naval Aviation. I am equally grateful to know that the Boomers will be in supremely capable and excellent hands, and I look forward to their future achievements!”

Shanahan, a native of Whitinsville, Mass., takes over as commanding officer following his tour as the executive officer of VT-27. Before arriving at VT-27, he served at Commander, Naval Air Force Reserve (CNAFR), the U.S. Naval War College, TW-4, VT-27, the U.S. Air Force’s 8th Flying Training Squadron (8th FTS), and Patrol Squadron (VP) 1. Shanahan has accumulated more than 3,400 military flight hours and achieved instructor qualification in the P-3C Orion, T-34C Turbo Mentor, T-6A Texan II, and T-6B Texan II aircraft. His awards include the Meritorious Service Medal, Navy Commendation Medal, Air Force Commendation Medal, and numerous service and campaign ribbons.

“I am honored and humbled to serve as commanding officer of VT-27,” Shanahan said. “Our squadron plays a critical role in shaping the future of Naval Aviation, and I look forward to continuing to serve with such a fantastic team of dedicated professionals.”

The ceremony aboard Lexington was especially significant for Shanahan, whose grandfather, BM2 Edmond Benoit, served aboard the ship from 1943-45.

“My grandfather’s Naval service absolutely inspired me to pursue a career in Naval Aviation,” Shanahan said. “It’s an honor to stand here today where he served on active duty and continue his legacy.”

Cmdr. Joseph Adams II, a native of Corinna, Maine, assumed the role of executive officer during the ceremony. Adams has accumulated more than 3,400 flight hours in the MH-60S Seahawk during his career.

VT-27, headquartered in Corpus Christi, shapes the future of Naval Aviation, producing the world’s finest primary student naval aviators prepared to excel in follow-on training and the fleet.