Naval Air Station Key West to Change Command June 17

Naval Air Station Key West to Change Command June 17

Capt. Bobby J. Baker will relieve Capt. Steven P. McAlearney as Commanding Officer of Naval Air Station Key West in a ceremony June 17 at 1 p.m. in Hangar A-936 on Boca Chica Field.

McAlearney has been at Key West for three years and will celebrate his 27-year Naval career during a retirement ceremony as part of the change of command.

Baker is reporting from Commander, U.S. Naval Forces Europe-Africa/U.S. 6th Fleet in Naples, Italy, where he was the Assistant Chief of Staff.

Baker’s previous duty assignments include flying the F/A-18 with the “Gladiators” of Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 106, VFA-105 “Gunslingers,” Naval Strike and Air Warfare Center – TOPGUN Adversary, and VFA-86 “Sidewinders.” Baker joined the NATO School in Oberammergau, Germany, as the Deputy Director of Military Cooperation, and then returned to flying with the VFA-125 “Rough Raiders” and VFA-192 “World Famous Golden Dragons,” where he served as the Executive Officer and Commanding Officer. Baker attended Oxford University as a Senior Fellow before reporting to Commander, U.S. Naval Forces Europe-Africa/U.S. 6th Fleet.

Baker has deployed on USS George Washington (CVN 73), USS Nimitz (CVN 68), USS Harry S. Truman (CVN 75), USS Enterprise (CVN 65) and USS John C. Stennis (CVN 74).

A 1993 graduate of the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, New York, Baker was designated an Army aviator in 1994 flying OH-58 and UH-1 helicopters. Baker executed an inter-service transfer in 1996, completed Navy flight school and was designated a Naval Aviator in 1999.

Over his career, Baker has amassed more than 3,400 flight hours, 104 combat sorties, and 778 carrier landings.

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