company.

Capt. Tim Bryan takes up his new post as vice-president of international operations with Ohio Art Company at the end of August.

And he will leave the US Naval Air Station in early August -- nearly one month before the Navy's official pull-out date.

Capt. Bryan, 45, said the official closing ceremonies at the Base were set for June 2, one day after Bermuda assumes control of air operations from the US military.

By then, he expected remaining work would mainly involve "packing things up and shipping them out''.

Capt. Bryan said it was his "sincere hope'' that Base closure talks with Bermuda would be completed by August 1. If not, a US Navy officer from the Pentagon would be assigned to the case, he said.

After 27 years with the Navy, Capt. Bryan said he welcomed a new challenge with Ohio Art, a company that is traded on the New York Stock Exchange and is based in Bryan, Ohio -- no relation.

"At some point, everybody leaves the Navy,'' where "it's up or out,'' said the 29th and final Commanding Officer of the US Base.

While he had opportunities to advance to the rank of admiral in other postings, "I think it's time for me to start something else,'' he said. "If you wait too long, you're too old, in my view, to really get into something else.'' The native of Washington, DC, who has degrees in international relations, technology management, and national security affairs, said he enjoyed "a great career'' with the Navy as a pilot and officer. But, "I've always wanted to go into business,'' he said.

He was offered jobs in the defence industry, but "I wanted to make a break and get into something totally different,'' he said. Ohio Art's best-known product is the drawing toy Etch-A-Sketch, sold in 62 countries around the world. It has a Michael Jordan line of sporting goods and a range of arts and crafts for children. Ohio Art is also involved in lithography, making the metallic wrap in which rolls of photographic film are packaged.

Regional directors for Latin America, Europe, and the Far East will report to him in his new job.

Capt. Bryan, who came to Bermuda in August, 1993 with his wife Pati and 15-year-old son Franklin, visited Bryan, Ohio over the Easter holiday. He is buying a house in the city of 10,000.

Having joined the Navy as an airman recruit in 1968, Capt. Bryan said the highlight of his career would be the "honour and privilege of turning the Airport over to Bermuda in a quality fashion and winding up a relationship of some 53 years.'' He felt he had done "a good job'' of assuring a smooth transition. "The Airport will continue to function well,'' he said. "The Navy will leave, but the security of Bermuda will be assured.'' Another high point was his time as commander of a squadron and a task group which flew in the Persian Gulf when he was based in Hawaii from 1986 to 1989.

He also served in the Phillipines, Alaska, and Iceland, and worked as a Congressional advisor to the Secretary of the Navy. His last job before coming to Bermuda was studying Navy requirements into the next century, leading a task force into stealth technology.

Capt. Bryan has just deliver to Premier the Hon. Sir John Swan the US Government's reply to Bermuda's Base closure position.

US Consul General Mr. Bob Farmer would be kept informed but would not take over any remaining negotiations in August, Capt. Bryan said. "It's not a State Department phenomenon,'' he said of the closure. "It will stay within the Department of the Navy.'' Capt. Tim Bryan