Needler leaving as commander of Training Air Wing 1

By By William F. West / community editor
April 3, 2003
Naval Air Station Meridian personnel are becoming familiar with a new face who will assume a key command position this summer.
Capt. Daniel L. Ouimette is on base with Training Air Wing 1. He'll replace Capt. Mark Needler on June 5.
Needler, as the wing commander, is in charge of training combat jet pilots at NAS Meridian. He was unavailable for comment Wednesday about his future plans, but NAS Meridian's public affairs office said he will retire from the service.
Ouimette has been on base for about two weeks.
Ouimette said Wednesday he is in a transition phase learning Needler's job. Ouimette will have command over T-45 jets, which are the most modern aircraft on base for training pilots.
Ouimette, 46, was the executive officer at the Naval air station at Pensacola, Fla. He and his wife, Becky, have three children.
Ouimette said he's excited about coming to Meridian.
Ouimette, a native of Minneapolis, received his Navy training in San Diego.
He did two tours of duty on the USS America, where he was a pilot, and worked as a catapult officer on the USS Constellation. He also was an air boss on the USS John F. Kennedy.
His career included service at Offutt Air Force Base at Omaha, Neb., home of the U.S. Strategic Air Command.
He also was attached to the Joint Chiefs of Staff as chief of strategic operations with the National Airborne Operations Center.
The purpose of the center is to provide the air command, control and communications so the president can direct U.S. forces and coordinate with civil authorities in times of national emergencies.