The "Royal Maces" of Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 27 celebrated their 32nd change of command Sept. 1. Cmdr. Gordon Cross relieved Cmdr. Gregory Huffman in the ceremony held aboard USS George Washington (CVN 73). Huffman served as commanding officer of the Royal Maces since August 2007. Prior to assuming command, he served as executive officer of the squadron.

During Huffman's tour as executive officer and commanding officer of the Royal Maces, the squadron received both the Battle "E" award and Safety "S" award. Before arriving with the Maces, Huffman served as executive officer of the VFA 122 Flying Eagles, naval aide to the President of the United States, department head for the VFA-81 Sunliners, and flew as a junior officer with the VFA-83 Rampagers.

Huffman also served as a test pilot at the Naval Weapons Test Squadron in China Lake, Calif., after achieving a Master's of Science from the University of Tennessee and a Master's of Arts from the University of Maryland. He was commissioned as an officer from the U.S. Naval Academy in Annapolis, Md. in 1989.

Huffman will transfer to Millington, Tenn. where he will serve as the head aviation assignments officer for lieutenant commanders and junior officers. With the change of command, Cross became the 33rd commanding officer of VFA 27.

Prior to joining the Maces, Cross served as the chief of experimentation and war-gaming at U.S. Special Operations Command (USSOCOM). He also served as a department head for the VFA 86 Sidewinders, and completed his junior officer tour with the VFA 97 Warhawks.

He also served as a Navy test pilot at Naval Air Station Patuxent River, Md., and earned his Master's of Aeronautics from the U.S. Navy Postgraduate School in Monterey, Calif. Cross commissioned as an officer from NROTC at the University of Michigan in 1990.

Cmdr. Fitzhugh Lee is the incoming executive officer for the Royal Maces. Lee has previously served as the military legislative assistant to U.S. Sen. John McCain, Arizona. He completed his department head tour with the VFA-22 "Fighting Redcocks" and his junior officer tour with the VFA-151 "Vigilantes." He also served as a flight instructor with the VFA-125 "Rough Riders," and he served as a landing signals officer with Carrier Air Wing 11.

Lee earned a master's degree from Georgetown University and was commissioned as an officer from NROTC at the University of California at San Diego.

The VFA-27 Royal Maces are a part of Carrier Air Wing Five, permanently based in Atsugi, Japan. As part of the Forward-Deployed Naval Forces, Japan, the Royal Maces embark and fly from George Washington. George Washington is currently sailing off the coast of Southern California where the crew is conducting its combat operations efficiency evaluation with Carrier Air Wing 5. George Washington Sailors are conducting training in the eastern Pacific Ocean before continuing to Japan, where the ship will replace USS Kitty Hawk (CV 63) as the U.S. Navy's only forward-deployed aircraft carrier. [ANN Salutes Ens. Marcus P. Trombetta, Strike Fighter Squadron 27 Public Affairs]

FMI: www.navy.mil/local/cvn73/