Capt. Jim Arnold is stepping down after two years as commanding officer of the Naval Air Station at St. David's.

He will be replaced by Capt. Timothy R. Bryan, a staff member of the Chief of Naval Operations.

Capt. Bryan, a father-of-one, has been a commanding officer of a patrol squadron in Hawaii.

Capt. Arnold, a pilot from Maryland, took command of the Base on August 1991.

Last December he was hit by controversy after a damning expose of the station by ABC newsman Sam Donaldson in a PrimeTime Live report.

The report alleged abuse of rank and privilege at the Base, which was likened to a Club Med resort, where military VIPs took vacations at taxpayers' expense.

Eyebrows were raised when Capt. Arnold failed to mount a strong, public rebuttal of the allegations.

Capt. Arnold is to return to Norfolk, Virginia, to work with the staff of the Commander Naval Air Forces US Atlantic.

In October he will be reassigned to coordinate air, sea, and submarine bases throughout the Atlantic. This follows a major reorganisation, deemed crucial to the success of the Navy's efforts to improve fleet readiness and quality of life for sailors.