Volpe takes charge of VQ-7 Roughnecks Published Jan. 6, 2011 By Lt. Jason Connors VQ-7 Public Affairs TINKER AIR FORCE BASE, Okla. -- Cdr. Frank P. Volpe Jr. relieved Cdr. Mark Mayerske as commanding officer of Fleet Air Reconnaissance Squadron Seven during an official change of command ceremony Dec. 10. VQ-7 is the Fleet Replacement Squadron for the U.S. Navy's E-6B Mercury. Cdr. Volpe takes the helm as the Roughneck squadron's 11th commanding officer since it transitioned from Naval Training Support Unit in February 2000. Cdr. Volpe takes charge after spending the last 12 months as the squadron's executive officer. He now presides over the training and readiness of aircrews prior to their arrival at either VQ-3 or VQ-4, and serves as the model manager for the E-6B Mercury. Capt. Tim Pedersen, Strategic Communications Wing One commodore, read remarks from guest speaker retired Navy Capt. John Keilty, who was unable to attend. Capt. Pedersen thanked Cdr. Mayerske for a job well done and said that he "performed flawlessly to higher headquarters tasking and provided only the best training enviroment for our TACAMO aircrews." Capt. Pedersen also commended him for taking care of his Sailors, citing that he "perfectly balanced stern correction when required and coaching when a Sailor needed it most." As Cdr. Volpe took command he made a pledge to "continue to train and evaluate the world's finest aircrew, ensuring they are combat ready and prepared to execute the tasks of strategic deterrence and National and Nuclear Command and Control." The TACAMO community's 16 E-6B Mercury aircraft enable the president of the United States and the Secretary of Defense to directly contact submarines, bombers and missile silos protecting our national security through nuclear deterrence.