By Melinda Larson, NSAM Public Affairs

Capt. Richard "Coyote" Wiley assumed command of Naval Support Activity Monterey, Dec. 9.

Wiley, a native of Greenfield, Calif., is a 1987 graduate of the University of California at Berkeley. He attended Aviation Officer Candidate School at Naval Air Station (NAS) Pensacola, Florida and was commissioned an Ensign in November of 1990. In June 1992, he earned his wings as a Naval Flight Officer and received orders to the Golden Intruders of VA-128 at NAS Whidbey Island for training in the A-6E.

During his career, Wiley served in many capacities including on numerous aircraft carriers with many Carrier Air Wings where he accumulated more than 3,400 flight hours and nearly 800 carrier arrestments in the A-6E, T-45A, E-2C, C-2A and F/A-18E/F aircraft. He has deployed to the Mediterranean Sea, Eastern Atlantic, Western Pacific, North Arabian Sea and Arabian Gulf. He was selected to attend the United States Naval War College at Newport, Rhode Island, where he graduated in November 2006 with a Master of Arts Degree in National Security and Strategic Studies.

With a 27-year Navy career behind him, the Salinas Valley native is very excited to be returning "home" after all these years of being away.

"I am thrilled to be in Monterey and never thought when I joined the Navy that I'd have the opportunity to return in this capacity," Wiley said. "I look forward to catching up with my former classmates and friends from the Salinas Valley, south Monterey County, and Monterey Bay area."

In his capacity as commanding officer of the installation, Wiley oversees support functions for the Naval Postgraduate School, Navy Research Lab, the Navy's Fleet Numerical Meteorology and Oceanography Center, and about a dozen other tenant commands.

"My command oversees the safety and security of the base for everyone who lives and works here. My staff also oversees building, road and grounds maintenance," Wiley said. "This is one of the Navy's flagship bases and my goal is to improve it every day."

Wiley reports from Naval Air Weapons Station China Lake where he served as the commanding officer since February 2014. He assumed command from Capt. Kevin L. Bertelsen, who will retire from the U.S. Navy and Navy Reserves with 30 years of service.