Cmdr. William D. Johns will assume command of Patrol Squadron 5 at Naval Air Station Sigonella, Sicily, from Cmdr. Sean C. Cannon Monday.

Johns, a 1987 University of Nebraska graduate, had served as the squadron’s executive officer since April 2004.

Cannon will depart for Johns Hopkins University where he will study international relations in the Arthur S. Moreau program.

The squadron, which is on a six-month deployment to Sigonella from its home base of Jacksonville, Fla., flies the P-3C Orion maritime patrol aircraft, which was designed to hunt submarines.

Squadron aircraft also are currently deployed to Bahrain and El Salvador, flying missions ranging from counter-drug operations to supporting Operations Iraqi and Enduring Freedom.

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