An official website of the United States government
A .mil website belongs to an official U.S. Department of Defense organization in the United States.
A lock (lock ) or https:// means you’ve safely connected to the .mil website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.

Article Display

Navy Lakehurst gets new Commanding Officer

  • Published
  • By Tom Worsdale
  • NAES Lakehurst
NAVAL AIR ENGINEERING STATION LAKEHURST, N.J. --  Captain Phillip L. Beachy relieved Captain L. Bret Gordon in a traditional change-of-command ceremony at the Naval Air Engineering Station (NAES) Lakehurst.

Captain Beachy, a 1982 graduate of Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in Troy, New York, is a Naval aviator who has flown more than 3000 hours in various naval aircraft, primarily the SH-3H Sea King and SH-60F and HH-60H Sea Hawk helicopters. He also served as a staff action officer at the Headquarters, United States European Command in Stuttgart, Germany. In 2002, Captain Beachy reported to Naval Air Systems Command in Patuxent River, Maryland and served as the Executive Assistant in Acquisition and Operations and later as the Deputy Program Manager for the Joint Precision Approach and Landing System. In 2005, he reported to Naval Air Engineering Station Lakehurst, New Jersey and became the installations' Executive Officer.

Captain Beachy has been awarded the Defense Meritorious Service Medal, the Meritorious Service Medal with one gold star and the Navy Commendation Medal with four gold stars, the Navy Achievement Medal and numerous other campaign and service awards.

NAES Lakehurst supports the Navy's aircraft carriers and also smaller ships designed to launch and recover helicopters as part of their mission. Employees at the base design, develop, test and improve anything that links aircraft to ships or support those that do. This includes supporting the large catapult and recovery systems, aircraft testing and support systems and the 500,000 items needed to support the variety of carrier-based aircraft.

Captain Gordon retired from the Navy after over 27 years of service. Captain Gordon, a 1980 graduate of the Naval Academy, has served as an Aerospace Maintenance Officer, Quality Assurance Officer and Production Control Officer aboard aircraft carriers during his career. He has also been the Chief Logistician for the F-14 Tomcat and was assigned to the Pentagon as a Senior Military Advisor for Maintenance Policy, Programs and Resources. Captain Gordon became the Executive Officer at Lakehurst in 2004 and assumed command of the installation in 2005. Fair Winds and Following Seas!