VMM-263 welcomes new CO
Lt. Col. Paul P. Ryan relinquished command
of Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 263 to
Lt. Col. Chandler S. Nelms during a change of
command ceremony outside the squadron’s
hangar, Jan. 29.
After serving nearly two years as the squad-
ron’s commanding officer, Ryan is scheduled to
study at Kaushal College of Armed Forces in
Washington for the next year.
“The biggest thing I am proud of is that
we’ve always gotten the job done and got it
done safely,” said Ryan. He further explained
that Nelms did not need any good luck, because
he was taking over a great command.
Nelms, a native of Jupiter, Fla., was com-
missioned from the United Stated Naval Acad-
emy in 1993 after graduating with a Bachelor
of Science in general science. Nelms reported
to Marine Aerial Refueler Transport Squadron
152 for his first fleet assignment where he par-
ticipated in multiple detachments, exercises and
attended several specialty training schools.
Shortly after reporting to Marine Aerial Re-
fueler Transport Squadron 352 in 2001, Nelms
deployed to Pakistan as the unit’s detachment
operations officer in support of Operation En-
during Freedom.
In 2003, he de-
ployed with the 11th
Marine Expedition-
ary Unit in support
of Operation Iraqi
Freedom I and again
in 2004 in support Op-
eration Iraqi Freedom
II. He returned to Iraq
in 2007 as the execu-
tive officer for Marine
Aerial Refueler Trans-
port Squadron 252,
Detachment A.
Just prior to tak-
ing command of
VMM-263, Nelms
was an MV-22B spe-
cial projects officer
with Marine Aircraft
Group 29.
“I don’t think I could have possibly hoped
for a finer commanding officer to receive the
colors from,” said Nelms.
During the ceremony, Nelms congratulated
the Marines of VMM-263 for the long history
of outstanding performance and said he plans
to carry on that tradition.
Lt. Col. Paul P. Ryan, former Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 263 commanding officer, right, passes
the squadron colors to Lt. Col. Chandler S. Nelms, incoming commanding officer of VMM-263, during
a change of command ceremony on the Air Station flightline, Jan. 29.

I thought this may be of interest to all HMM/VMM-263 members.

S/F Gary Alls
HMM-263 '66-'67