Southern Maryland Mustang Association President Cmdr. Sean Prasser (right) reads the first of two proclamations naming Pax River Commanding Officer Capt. Andy Macyko (left) and NAWCAD Commander Rear Adm. Donald Gaddis (center) as honorary Mustangs.

Gaddis related his first experience with Mustangs, officers who rose from the enlisted ranks. ‘‘I was a new ensign and they were both maintenance control officers,” said Gaddis.

‘‘What was it that drew me to them? They were ap-proachable,” he continued. ‘‘You could trust them because they were honest all thetime.”

Said Gaddis, ‘‘They had lots of credibility, and they always told the skipper straight what the situation was.”

In short, ‘‘I’m describing leadership. That’s what I think about when talking about Mustangs,” he concluded. ‘‘That’s how I learned to talk to folks when I was an ensign and lieutenant j.g. — being around Mustangs.”