SASEBO, Japan – Capt. Scott Hattaway relieved Capt. Derek Brady as commodore of Commander Mine Countermeasures Squadron (COMCMRON) 7 during a change of command ceremony July, 22. Mine Countermeasures Squadron (MCMRON) 7 is directly responsible for all mine countermeasures operations in the 7th Fleet area of operations and is a combined readiness and tactical staff reporting directly to Expeditionary Strike Group 7. The squadron consists of a headquarters unit, Avenger-class mine countermeasure ships, USS Patriot (MCM 7), USS Pioneer (MCM 9), USS Warrior (MCM 10), USS Chief (MCM 14) and Helicopter Mine Countermeasures Squadron 14 Detachment 2 Alpha (HM-14). During Capt. Brady’s tenure as commodore, MCMRON 7 saw unprecedented development and success. The four ships of MCMRON 7 completed 38 warfare certifications with a 100 percent pass rate. The squadron attained the highest operational availability in the past five years for both the Avenger class ships and the MH-53E Sea Dragon aircraft of the HM-14 detachment 2 Alpha. The squadron completed the Integrated Mine Warfare Certification with one of the highest grades achieved by a mine warfare staff in the last five years.