FALLON - Naval Air Station Fallon welcomed a new commander and bade farewell to Capt. W. Scott Ryder.
Ryder, the skipper at NAS Fallon for the past three years, relinquished command of the 3,000 personnel naval installation to Capt. Michael H. Glaser on Friday in front of a crowd of more than 350 people.
Ryder assumed command of NAS Fallon in May 2004 from Capt. Brad Goetsch, who has since become Churchill County Manager. Ryder's next assignment will be as commanding officer of Navy ROTC at the University of Idaho in Moscow, a combination program including students from Washington State University in Pullman, Wash.
Rear Admiral Len Hering, admiral of Navy Region Southwest, spoke briefly about "Easy" Ryder's accomplishments in establishing an encroachment protection plan around the base and his commitment to the community shown through the Navy's donation of surplus mobile homes to the Fallon Paiute-Shoshone Tribe.
Hering presented Ryder with the Legion of Merit Medal.
Ryder thanked the Fallon community for its support.
"You all have been phenomenal wingmen," he said.
"My time here has been phenomenal. There is no place on Earth that is as supportive of a Navy base as Fallon," Ryder concluded. "It has been my honor to serve this installation."
After the formal reading of orders, Glaser took assumed command and shared brief remarks.
"At a change of command, there's always two people smiling. But only one knows why," he said with a laugh as he looked back at Ryder.