MILTON — USMC Lt. Col. Rafford Coleman has turned over command of Helicopter Training Squadron 18 to Cmdr. Brian Sanderson.
Sanderson comes to the Vigilant Eagles after having graduated from Air Command and Staff College at Maxwell Air Force Base, where he earned a Master of Military Operational Art and Science.
The Epes, Ala., native graduated from the University of South Alabama in 1997 and was designated a Naval aviator in 1999. His first assignment placed him with the Dragonslayers of HS-11 in Jacksonville, Fla., in January 2001. It preceded a tour with HS-10 in San Diego, Calif. While there, he graduated from the Seahawk Weapons and Tactics Instructor course in Fallon, N.V., and was recognized as the 2006 Naval Helicopter Association Fleet Instructor Pilot of the Year.
His next assignments took him to Carrier Airwing 8, where he served as combat search and rescue officer and anti-submarine warfare officer; the Tridents of HS-3 (later redesignated HSC-9). Sanderson then reported to Joint Staff Suffolk, Va. in 2012, and served as a modeling and simulations planner and service support team lead for the joint staff.
His personal awards include the Defense Meritorious Service Medal, Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal (three awards), Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal (two awards), and various unit awards.
Lt. Col. Aaron Brunk, USMC, will replace Sanderson as the squadron’s executive officer.
This article originally appeared on Santa Rosa Press Gazette: Sanderson takes command of Helicopter Training Squadron Eighteen