12:08 GMT, November 4, 2009 NAVAIR Patuxent River, Md. | Capt. Luis M. Ramirez took the helm of the U.S. ASW Systems Program (PMA-264) following a change of command ceremony held today.

Ramirez, the assistant chief of staff for material and logistics readiness for Battle Force Seventh Fleet, will succeed Capt. Larry Pugh, a 1983 graduate of Southern Methodist University.

Capt. Pugh, a Naval Flight Officer, will retire from the United States Navy with 25 years of distinguished service. Pugh served as patrol plane tactical coordinator, mission commander, instructor navigator, IPT Lead and finally program manager for Air ASW Sensors.

A California native and a graduate of UCLA, Ramirez received his commission through the Aviation Officers Candidate School and was designated a Naval Flight Officer.

His operational tours included Patrol Squadrons VP 48 and VP 50, and culminated with VP 31, where he served as a Replacement Air Group NFO flight instructor.

Ramirez was transferred to Naval Air Systems Command in 1996 where he served as an Aerospace Engineering Duty Officer in several acquisition programs.

In 2008, after a short tour as the AIR 1.0 Operations Officer, Ramirez reported to the Forward Deployed Naval Force Carrier Strike Group staff permanently embarked on the USS George Washington, home ported out of Yokosuka, Japan.

He holds a bachelor of science degree in Engineering from UCLA, a master of science degree in Computer Science from the Naval Post Graduate School, and a master of arts degree in National Security Strategy from the National War College. He is a member of the Acquisition Corp with Level III certification in Program Management and Systems Planning, Research, Development & Engineering.