VAQ-130 holds change of command

The “Zappers” of Electronic Attack Squadron 130 held a change of command ceremony July 3 at Naval Air Station Whidbey Island.

Cmdr. Jack “Farva” Curtis relieved Cmdr. David “Heavy” Ganci as commanding officer in the squadron’s hangar.

Ganci, a 1998 graduate of Elmira College, took command of the VAQ-130 Zappers in June 2018.

Ganci earned his commission at Officer Candidate School and later began his first fleet tour with VAQ-136. Ganci then became an Electronic Attack Weapons School instructor and, from there, went on to serve as a department head for VAQ-142. He joined the Zappers as the executive officer in October 2016 after a tour at PERS 43 at Navy Personnel Command and after attaining his master’s degree at the Naval War College.

Upon becoming commanding officer of VAQ-130, Ganci’s leadership from June 2018 to July 2019 helped guide the Zappers to executing over 907 sorties and 1,380 flight hours, as well as eight Large Force Strike detachments.

Following his first fleet tour with VAQ-141, Curtis became an instructor at the Fleet Replacement Squadron, VAQ-129.

Curtis said he is thrilled to take command of the Zappers and will lead them through a work up cycle and into their next deployment.

Cmdr. Benjamin “Maggie” Cooper assumed the duties as the squadron’s executive officer.

VAQ-130 is part of the Eisenhower Carrier Strike Group.