Incoming Naval Air Station Commander Capt. John “Jack” Hill, left, and outgoing commander Capt. T. W. Luscher, salute the flag at the change of command ceremony on February 17.

Photo by William Dilella

Naval Air Station Joint Reserve Base (NAS) New Orleans in Belle Chasse welcomed a new commander on Feb. 17, bidding adieu to Capt. T. W. Luscher. 

Following in Luscher’s footsteps is Capt. John “Jack” Hill.

Hill will be the 28th NAS commander.

“I pledge to Belle Chasse, Plaquemines Parish…and all the surrounding communities that the NAS-JRB will continue to be a good neighbor,” Hill said.

After which, Hill gave his first order: to dismiss the ceremony, followed successively by a slightly less official order for Mardi Gras, “Laissez les bon temps rouler!”

He served as chief of staff for the commander of the Naval Air Force Reserve prior to this assignment.

Personally, he was born and raised in Montpelier, Vermont, and attended Northastern University in Boston, earning a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration. 

Hill earned his Wings of Gold in 1991, starting an aviation career that included five operational tours. He has also had three successive sea tours.

Luscher has been in the service since 1986, and has seen many deployments, as well as time as a weapons instructor and F-14 flight instructor, with over 4,000 hours personally logged in naval aircraft. The Naval Air Station command in Belle Chasse was his latest post, which he has held since May 2010.

Luscher is being promoted to a Pentagon Position as a senior aid.