The change of command ceremony at the Naval Air Station in Meridian has many traditions: ringing a bell at the arrival of high-ranking naval leaders, giving spouses and children gifts, and changing the name printed on the side of the plane.

But while Capt. Nicholas A. Mungas relieved Capt. Paul A. “Fuzzy” Carelli, widely known as a jokester, from his command as the leader of Training Air Wing One, the crowd wept and laughed with the speakers who told stories of Carelli’s naval career and spoke highly of incoming Mungas.

Retired Capt. Mike Warriner, the guest speaker, said he’d known Carelli since 1997, and remembered his unwavering dedication and reputation for candor. 

“Fuzzy never hesitated. The team needed him to do something and he stepped up and he did it,” Warriner said. “More than once he let a department head know he was about as sharp as a bag of hair.”

Warriner, after many jokes at the expense of Carelli, praised Carelli’s handling of issues with the oxygen systems of the aircraft. 

“One of the greatest tests of leadership is acting with imperfect information,” Warriner said. “Leaders step up in these times and Fuzzy did that.”

In April, flights had to be temporarily grounded at the station because of contaminants in the airplane’s oxygen system. Engineers and naval leaders implemented improved monitoring and sensors in late June and students returned to training.

Carelli recognized two students and two reservists for their role in implementing data collection tools that allowed students to return to the skies, including Lt. Junior Grade Eric W. Markovich, Lt. Junior Grade Kyle J. Corbett, Aviation Structural Mechanic Chief Petty Officer Jeffrey Scott Cole and Lt. Scott M. Hook. Students Markovich and Corbett received Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medals while Cole and Hook received Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medals for their work. 

At the ceremony, Rear Admiral James Bynum also recognized Carelli with a Legion of Merit for his years of service and ability to lead and work as an ambassador to neighboring communities. 

“There are people in your life who make an impact on you and who make you who you are,” Carelli said, thanking numerous commanders and others who had touched his life. “But what I am most proud of is not the awards I have, it’s the statistics.”

Carelli stressed that despite the $2.5 million he managed, his 4,000 flight hours and 25 years of naval experience, the only number he cared about was zero, for zero fatalities.

“Zero is the best statistic that we can have,” Carelli said. 

After the ceremony, Carelli reflected on his reputation for pranks and jokes.

“If you get too full of yourself it makes it tough to lead,” Carelli said. “I love people and I love playing games with them… Naval aviation is all about joking around because what we do is dark sometimes.”

While Carelli has no concrete plans for retirement, he said he believed Mungas was qualified for the role he left behind. 

“He’s a Montana boy and he likes to hunt and fish,” Carelli said. “He has great people skills; he connects with people. He already has all the skills he needs.”

Mungas, who spent the past few months familiarizing himself with the base and his new role, said he appreciated the legacy Carelli leaves behind.

“I know the machine is going to keep moving along,” Mungas said. “The Navy has a long process for how to (change command), you’re ready even if you don’t feel like it.”