A Change Of Command At PMRF
Capt. Bruce W. Hay relieved Capt. Nicholas Mongillo as commanding officer of Pacific Missile Range Facility at a change of command ceremony July 11 at the PMRF base operations hangar.
Hay becomes the 25th Naval officer to hold the PMRF post, and arrives after an assignment as the aircraft carrier future requirements officer on the Chief of Naval Operations Staff in Washington, D.C.
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- Hula Halau Ka Lei Mokihana O Leina Ala performs Ike Ike One Kani A O Nohili to signify the transfer of responsibility of the Nohili area from one commander to another during a change of command ceremony at the Pacific Missile Range Facility
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- Capt. Nicholas Mongillo (left) salutes Capt. Bruce W. Hay as they transfer responsibility during a change of command ceremony at PMRF
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- Capt. Bruce W. Hay gives remarks during a change of command ceremony at PMRF. Hay relieved Capt. Nicholas Mongillo. as commanding officer of PMRF during the ceremony. U.S. Navy photos by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Mathew J. Diendorf
An EA-6B Naval flight officer, Hay has accrued more than 2,600 flight hours and 802 carrier arrested landings, as well as making the first EA-6B Prowler night-vision device landing in Bagram, Afghanistan.
He also was part of the historic 10-month deployment with the USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN-72) during Operation Iraqi Freedom.
Hay served as the operations officer for the USS Nimitz (CVN-68), where he was awarded a peer-nominated Navy and Marine Corps Leadership Award.
A native of Hyde Park, N.Y., Hay received his commission through the Reserve Officer Training Corps at Union College in Schenectady, N.Y., where he earned a Bachelor of Science degree in industrial economics. He is married to his high school sweetheart, Susie.
“Susie and I are continually amazed at the beauty of the island and especially of the people who live here,” says Hay. “We really look forward to the next three years advancing the fantastic work being done at PMRF and becoming integral members of the PMRF and Kaua’i ohana.”
Mongillo and his wife, Jackie, leave PMRF after three years. The Connecticut native is retiring after more than 27 years of distinguished Navy service that saw him take part in Operations Desert Shield, Desert Storm and Iraqi Freedom.
During Desert Storm, he downed an Iraqi MiG-21 on the first of his 25 combat missions, earning the Silver Star Medal. He also was awarded the prestigious Navy and Marine Association Commander Leadership Award in 2006.
Mongillo has more than 5,000 flight hours and 750 carrier arrested landings.
“My family’s assignment to PMRF was the absolute highlight of my 27-year Navy career,” says Mongillo. “Of the nine different states that we have lived in, none have offered the warmth, friendship and ohana that Kaua’i offers. Jackie and I are extremely sad to leave our island home, the friends we made here, are our friends forever. Aloha and thank you.”
