By Doris G. Lance

NAVAIR China Lake Weapons Divisions—Competition was as keen as a tight NBA basketball game between the LA Lakers and the Denver Nuggets. But at the final buzzer, Feb. 23, Aircrew Survival Equipmentman First Class Thomas Henderson, from the China Lake test parachute operations branch, took home the NAVAIR 2003 Sailor of the Year (SOY) award. Vice Adm. Walter Massenburg, NAVAIR commander, at an official ceremony at NAVAIR headquarters, Patuxent River, Md, presented Henderson the SOY award.

Each candidate was required to answer numerous questions on naval history, Navy traditions, protocol, Uniform Code Military Justice, current events and world affairs, Navy programs, and military code of conduct. They were also graded on leadership, professional and personal accomplishments during the calendar year, plus appearance and military bearing. “I could not have imagined a tougher board,” Henderson explained. Other NAVAIR nominees were: AT1 Charles Schramm, NAVAIR headquarters; AW1 Michael Carolson, NAVAIR Aircraft Division; PR1 Rolando Dayao, NAVAIR Depot North Island; and AZ1 Marcelon Mosley, Naval Air Pacific Repair Activity, Atsugi, Japan.

The journey for the Newport, Oregon High School graduate began three months after his June 1992 graduation when he enlisted in the Navy. Henderson’s Navy career began by attending basic training, followed by assignment at NAS Barbers Point, HI, graduation from the Army Airborne School in Fort Benning, GA. then special operations parachute rigger’s school at Fort Lee, VA. In1997, Henderson was off to SEAL Delivery Vehicle Team One back in Hawaii where he ran Air Operations Dept. He chalked up additional training by completing basic military freefall, static line jumpmaster and military freefall jumpmaster schools.

In May 2000, he was selected for the U.S. Navy Test Parachutist program and six months later graduated the Navy Basic Instructor Training course. In 2001, Henderson arrived at China Lake where he entered the test parachutist candidate program. He added his operational and technical experience as a qualified freefall jumpmaster in rewriting and establishing standard operating procedures to the program that was undergoing change at the time.

He advanced to petty officer first class in July 2001, then completed candidate training in November working as the packing deck supervisor. Promotion was not far away for Henderson at this one of a kind Navy live jump, research and development, test and evaluation unit. “I am the training/projects officer and lead petty officer for the China Lake team,” added Henderson. “We jump systems everyday that aviators and aircrew spend their entire careers praying they never have to use.”

“Gear we work on has to work right the first time,” he said. Henderson is one of three qualified test parachutist jumpmasters in the entire Navy. Working with the other eight members of the team, he noted, “Now I have the assurance and comfort that every man on the CL team I can fully trust.”

The job has its physical challenges as well. But a broken left foot and a herniated disk isn’t stopping this Navy jumper. When asked if there were ever butterflies in his stomach or if before a jump his heart would beat in his throat, Henderson stated, “It happens every time. We’re scheduled to jump twice a week, six jumps per day, and you have a respect for the importance of what you are about to do.”

His passion and service to the Navy hasn’t stopped at this accomplishment. “I am reapplying in June this year for the Seaman to Admiral 21 program,” he said. “My ultimate goal is to become an aerospace engineer and an astronaut.” Family members have passed down his drive and service to his country. Born in Jacksonville, N.C., his father was a combat Huey helicopter pilot for the Marine Corps during the Vietnam conflict and his grandfather was a retired Navy chief aviation machinist mate.

Looking back over his career, Henderson finalized, “I don’t think I would do anything different. My dedication has been and is to the Navy.”

Photo: Aircrew Survival Equipmentman 1st Class Thomas Henderson.