Capt. Daniel Martins, commanding officer of Naval Air Station Sigonella, gives his remarks after relieving Capt. Aaron Shoemaker during a change of command ceremony at Naval Air Station Sigonella in Sicily, April 10, 2025. (Sebastian Portieleslopez/U.S. Navy)
NAPLES, Italy — A Navy helicopter pilot with more than 3,000 hours of flight time behind the controls took command of the service’s largest air station in Italy this week.
Capt. Daniel Martins relieved Capt. Aaron Shoemaker of command of Naval Air Station Sigonella on the island of Sicily on Thursday, in a ceremony presided over by Rear Adm. Brad Collins, commander of Navy Region Europe, Africa, Central.
Martins most recently served as head of the MH-60R (Seahawk) Weapons School at the Naval Aviation Warfighting Development Center in Fallon, Nev., according to his LinkedIn biography.
A native of Roselle, N.J., Martins also led Helicopter Maritime Strike Squadron 3 at Marine Corps Base Hawaii, and was the air operations officer for Joint Task Force-National Capitol Region in Washington, his biography states.
He commissioned through Boston University ROTC and received a master’s degree in U.S. history from George Mason University in 2017.
“Service is hard and it’s a great sacrifice,” Martins said of the contributions made by sailors, civilians and others assigned to NAS Sigonella. “It will be my honor to serve alongside you these next three years.”
Capt. Daniel Martins, left, the new head of Naval Air Station Sigonella, relieves Capt. Aaron Shoemaker during a change of command ceremony at NAS Sigonella in Sicily, April 10, 2025. (Sebastian Portieleslopez/U.S. Navy)
Shoemaker, who led the base since April 2022, was commended for his oversight of several construction and energy efficiency projects. He also fostered environmental planning and practices, including a 10-year housing lease modification that netted $21 million in savings.
Shoemaker worked to improve quality of life for sailors and families living at NAS Sigonella, the Navy said in a statement Thursday.
He also helped establish a suicide prevention program recognized as the No. 1 program across nine installations by the EURAFCENT suicide prevention office.
In an emotional farewell, Shoemaker remembered how the NAS Sigonella community rallied together not only during good times like Fourth of July and Christmas events, but in challenging situations, such as wildfires in July 2023 and in the aftermath of the deaths of two sailors serving at the base.
“This has truly been an opportunity of a lifetime, and the most personally and professionally rewarding assignment of my career,” said Shoemaker, who received a Legion of Merit award for exceptionally meritorious conduct in the performance of outstanding service.
Shoemaker will next serve as chief of staff at Naval District Washington in Washington, D.C.
