“It is an exciting time, especially as there is so much work going on around the base and new capabilities coming on line,” said CDRE Smallhorn, who recently took over the position from CDRE Di Pietro.

“For many years the catch cry has been the future is going to be something special. That future is now here.

“We [the base] might be in transition but it is all here in some form or another.

“The last of the product lines is arriving to replace for the Squirrel helicopter which has been teaching people for three decades.

“The EC 135 helicopter will replace it and it is the latest in aviation technology training - it is an entire aviation training system. It is the simulators, both high end and low end, the ground school, an interactive way of teaching and the aircraft is a key part of the entire system.

“The future is here.

“Our workforce is strong, we are still recruiting and training the best in Australia - it is a nice place to be.

“It provides jobs and money for the local area and assurance this base is here for many decades to come.

“It will be one of the best facilities in the world.

“And of course we have the last of the new Romeos arriving as well.”

He said the $700 million Helicopter Aircrew Training System (HATS) would add more vibrancy to the base and the Shoalhaven community.

“We will be training both navy and army and what will come with that is vibrancy - more and more young people will come into the organisation and the training will lift the vibrancy not only of the base but the whole community,” he said.

“I hope most of Nowra see us as a navy town. We see ourselves as a Shoalhaven and Nowra resident. It’s part of who we are.

“The base was first established in 1948, we have nearly been here 70 years - that is something pretty special to have one military establishment linked to one community. Add to that HMAS Creswell, which has just celebrated its centenary as well,  it is a big history.

“It’s a great time to be here.”

CDRE Smallhorn joined the navy initially as an aeronautical engineer, attending the Australian Defence Force Academy.

After being stationed at Albatross he followed his dream to fly, and aspiration to become a test pilot.

After completing training, his formative flying career was on the Seahawk S70, which are being replaced by the new Romeos.

After flying with various ships, he was then selected for a one year test pilot training course in the US, returning to Australia to work at the aircraft maintenance and flight trials unit, which he would later command.

A stint flight testing with NASA, the US Military and a Canadian research organisation followed, where he tested the vertical motion simulator. He managed the Seasprite program, commanded  816 Squadron flying Seahawks,was deputy commander at Headquarters, Chief of Staff to the then Chief of Navy Vice Admiral Ray Griggs, followed by a year of study year on the senior officers staff course and last year was the director of the Maritime Safety Bureau for fleet and navy.

“The best part  of command is the people - the job’s great, the flying’s great, what you produce is great but the people are fantastic,” he said.