Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron (HSC) 25 held a change of command ceremony at the squadron’s hangar aboard Andersen Air Force Base, Aug. 21.
During the ceremony, Cmdr. Gabriel Soltero relieved Cmdr. Gregory Leland as commanding officer of HSC-25.
Since Leland, a native of Marlborough, Massachusetts, assumed command of HSC-25 in November 2013, he has overseen the deployment of three squadron armed helicopter detachments for year-round support to USS Bonhomme Richard (LHD 6) and two other detachments aboard USNS Charles Drew (T-AKE 10) and USNS Washington Chambers (T-AKE 11). He also oversaw the 24 hour search and rescue (SAR) and medevac alert for the Northern Mariana Islands, resulting in five SARs, 16 medevacs and 34 lives saved.
Leland’s next assignment is at the Pentagon in Washington, D.C.
Soltero, a native of San Juan, Puerto Rico, assumed command of HSC-25 after attending the Naval War College in Newport, Rhode Island, where he earned a Master of Arts in national security and strategic studies. Before the War College, he served as the commanding officer of HSC-15 at Naval Air Station North Island in Coronado, California.
HSC-25 is the Navy’s only forward-deployed MH-60S expeditionary squadron. As part of Helicopter Sea Combat Wing Pacific, it provides an armed helicopter capability for U.S. 7th Fleet in support of anti-surface warfare, personnel recovery, special operation forces missions and humanitarian assistance.