A routine moment for the Navy, and for us.

ABOARD USS JOHN C. STENNIS – Cmdr. Muhammad Muzzafar F. Khan relieved Cmdr. Timothy Langdon as commanding officer of Sea Control Squadron (VS) 31 during a ceremony held at sea aboard USS John C. Stennis (CVN 74) May 13.

Khan is the first Muslim to take command of an operational aviation squadron in the U.S. Navy.

Not because this is a touchy-feely PC moment – whoop-te-do look at us for promoting an oppressed minority! – but because this kind of stuff happens all the time in the military. It’s only remarkable because he’s the first. And it’s only remarked on because that’s what PR people do.

Here is a guy who had it good in Pakistan; daddy was an airplane pilot and they just don’t give those jobs to anyone. Gave it up when he was 18 to come here and study, then join the Navy. This is what we’re good at doing – co-opting the best and brightest and letting them get as far as they want to.

And the West generally and the United States in particular do this all the time.

Cross posted to Space For Commerce.