Macyko

Retired Rear Adm. Jan Gaudio, former commandant of Naval District Washington, is the keynote speaker. Gaudio is now executive vice president and chief operating officer of the Navy-Marine Corps. Relief Society.

Macyko is currently Pax River’s executive officer, having served in that position since 2006. He came to Pax River as deputy director operations for the newly combined staff of Commander, U.S. Naval Forces Europe and Commander, Sixth Fleet, and served onboard the flagship USS Mount Whitney.

A native of Long Island, N.Y., he graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy in 1983 with a bachelor’s degree in ocean engineering and became a naval aviator in February 1985.

His first operational assignment was in Helicopter Anti-Submarine Squadron Seven, at NAS Jacksonville, Fla., flying the SH-3H Sea King. He deployed on the U.S.S. John F. Kennedy and was the HS Wing One Pilot of the Year for 1988.

Graduating from the U.S. Naval Test Pilot School with Class 96 in December 1989, Macyko served as the SH-60F Seahawk Model Manager⁄Engineering Test Pilot in the Rotary Wing Aircraft Test Directorate and earned a Master of Science degree in Aviation Systems from the University of Tennessee.

In February 1992, he reported to the U.S.S. Guam as the ship’s navigator. He deployed to the Mediterranean Sea in support of Operation Provide Promise and also served as the COMPHIBRON Four staff navigator for the five-ship amphibious ready group. He earned the Surface Warfare Officer qualification.

He joined Helicopter Anti-Submarine Squadron Eleven in June 1994 during the squadron’s transition to the SH-60F Seahawk aircraft. He served as the administrative officer, then deployed on U.S.S. America as the squadron’s maintenance officer.

In March 1997, Macyko graduated with distinction and earned a Master of Arts degree in national security and strategic studies from the U.S. Naval War College in Newport, R.I. Following graduation, he served as a politico-military planner assigned to the Joint Staff, J-5, Strategic Plans and Policy Directorate in the Pentagon.

He joined HS-7 as Executive Officer in July 1999 and took command of this SH-60F⁄HH-60H Seahawk squadron in December 2000, then led the ‘‘Dusty Dogs” on the U.S.S. Harry S. Truman’s maiden overseas deployment to the Arabian Gulf in support of Operation Southern Watch.

In April 2002, he joined the Truman as the ship’s Navigator. Truman supported the major combat operations phase of Operation Iraqi Freedom and earned the 2003 Battle ‘‘E.” Macyko was awarded the 2003 Navy and Marine Corps Association Leadership Award, selected by his peers on the Truman.

Macyko has accrued over 4,100 flight hours in 27 models of fixed-wing and rotary-wing military aircraft. He is authorized to wear the Legion of Merit, the Defense Meritorious Service Medal, the Meritorious Service Medal (2 awards), the Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal (3 awards), the Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal and various campaign, unit and service awards.

Macyko is married to the former Susan Jane McClenathan of Orchard Park, N.Y., a former Navy Pediatric Nurse Practitioner. They have three sons, ages 3-7, and a daughter, 1.

The change of command ceremony holds a long and revered history and tradition in the Navy. It was established to allow people within the command to witness the change of command as it occurs and have confidence in the new command. The ceremony also allows time to recognize and celebrate the outgoing commander’s achievements and to welcome the new leadership.