NAVAIR Depot Jacksonville military recognized
By Susan Brink, NAVAIR Depot Jacksonville Public Affairs Specialist

On November 21, 2002, Commanding Officer (CO) Capt. Karl E. Yeakel, Naval Air (NAVAIR)Depot Jacksonville, recognized several active-duty members. As Executive Officer Capt. David J. Beck read several citations, the CO congratulated them for their past and present accomplishments.

Letters of Appreciation (LOAs) were presented to Capt. Kirk Johansen and Cmdr. Joseph Bartley for their professionalism and attention to detail as a team member supporting Project Golden Wing’s (PGW) Information Exchange. This event gave Depot employees the opportunity to see how the new alignment and logo fit into each work area. The PGW Team was on hand to answer questions while the NAVAIR One video was presented on a big screen television showing everyone how all nine NAVAIR sites roll up into one NAVAIR Team.

An LOA was presented to Lt. Mike Kilmurray for his professionalism and attention to detail while serving as a tour guide and also a great source of information for the visitors from the First Coast Manufacturers Association. The CO congratulated him on his knowledge and dedicated efforts that resulted in an impressive display of the capabilities of the Depot.

Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medals were presented to ADCS Russell Moore, SK1 Eugene Reader, SK1 Robert Orton, and SK2 Andrew Storms. SK1 Russell Moore was awarded for his professional achievement while serving as Operations Department Leading Chief Petty Officer for Patrol Squadron TEN from April 1999 to September 2002. His efforts were instrumental in the interdiction of 34,700 kilograms of illegal narcotics valued at 5.4 billion dollars in the Caribbean. SK1 Eugene Reader was awarded for his professional achievement as the Assistant Material Program Manager at NAVAIR Depot Jacksonville from April 2002 to October 2002. Reader developed and managed a highly effective spreadsheet/database that tracked more than 250 pieces of repairable equipment critical to Depot production, resulting in labor savings in excess of 1,000 man-hours. SK1 Robert Orton was awarded for professional achievement as a Supply Support Manager at NAVAIR Depot Jacksonville from May 2002 to November 2002. Orton developed and managed a highly effective storekeeper rate-training program that resulted in the 100 percent advancement of Third Class and Second Class Petty Officers. Additionally, he designed and implemented four new supply status flowcharts that facilitated the tracking of over 300 aircraft sub-assemblies and aggressively expedited more than 1,000 weekly supply requests for critical repair parts and tools. SK2 Andrew Storms was awarded for professional achievement as a Supply Support Manager at NAVAIR Depot Jacksonville from July 2002 to December 2002. Storms developed and managed four new supply status flowcharts that facilitated the tracking and ensured up-to-date accountability of over 300 aircraft sub-assemblies. Additionally, he meticulously researched and aggressively expedited more than 1,000 weekly supply requests for critical repair parts and tools.

Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medals were presented to AMC Jerry Freeze and AMC Rich Polinsky. AMC Jerry Freeze was awarded for heroic achievement as Flight Engineer of a P-3 aircraft assigned to Commander Task Force FIVE SEVEN Deployed with Commander, U.S. FIFTH Fleet from 9 to 21 November 2001 in support of Operation ENDURING FREEDOM. AMC Rich Polinsky was awarded for meritorious service as Aircraft Intermediate Maintenance Department Quality Assurance and Production Control Chief aboard USS JOHN F. KENNEDY (CV 67) from September 1998 to July 2002. His superb technical expertise was instrumental in identifying a critical fleet wide aircraft component inspection deficiency that could have cause severe mission degradation.

During the awards ceremony, AK2 Charlene D’Andrade was frocked to Second Class. The CO congratulated D’Andrade on her many accomplishments as a reservist and the dedicated service and commitment she has shown working in Material Support at the Depot.

The CO welcomed ADCS Russell Moore, AD1 Craig Felix, SK1 Joel Therlonge, and SK2 Bryan Johnson to NAVAIR Depot Jacksonville.

– USN –

"NAVAIR provides advanced warfare technology through the efforts of a seamless, integrated, worldwide network of aviation technology experts. From professional training to carrier launch; from sensor data to precision targeting; from aircraft and weapons development to successful deployment; from real-time communication to aircraft recovery NAVAIR provides dominant combat effects and matchless capabilities to the American warfighter."