Military recognized at NADEP Jacksonville
By Susan Brink, Public Affairs Specialist

On May 1, 2002, Commanding Officer (CO) Capt. Karl E. Yeakel, Naval Air Depot Jacksonville (NADEP JAX), recognized several of the Depot’s active-duty military. All of the Depot’s military members and reservists were present for the ceremony. As Executive Officer Capt. David J. Beck read several citations, the CO congratulated all of the recipients recognized for their past and present accomplishments.

Chief Petty Officer Brian Flinn received a Certificate of Appreciation from the United Service Organizations (USO) for his assistance and coordination in sending a team that volunteered for “Paint The Town” on April 17, 2002. Chief Petty Officer Flinn and five other military members from the Depot worked for eight hours scraping, caulking, and priming two houses that will be painted during the month of May. This was one of the several volunteer projects that they support every year.

Letters of Appreciation (LOA) were presented for the professionalism displayed in the planning, coordinating, and flawless execution of the NADEP Jacksonville’s 33rd Change of Command ceremony held on January 25, 2002. Recipients of the LOAs were: Cmdr. Ron Bethmann, Cmdr. Christopher Rice, Lt. Cmdr. Brent George, Lt. Cmdr. JoAnn Walker, Lt. Cmdr. Louis Vanleer, Lt. Cmdr. Dennis Sacha, Lt. Darren Sweet, Lt. j.g. David Littleton, Chief Petty Officer Brian Flinn, Petty Officer 1st Class Alfonso Vasquez, Petty Officer 1st Class John Jensvold, Petty Officer 2nd Class Malcolm Jeffcoat, Petty Officer 1st Class Robert Colgan, and Petty Officer 1st Class Larry Brown. The CO also presented each of them with a NAVAIR Coin and personally thanked them for a job exceptionally well done.

Three Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medals (NCM) were presented. Senior Chief Petty Officer Jeffery Abbey received a Gold Star in lieu of a 3rd NCM from Commander, Cruiser Destroyer Group TWO while serving as the Quality Assurance Supervisor and Maintenance Chief in Helicopter Antisubmarine Squadron 15 from December 1999 to May 2001.

Lt. Cmdr. Terry Hart received a Gold Star in lieu of a 3rd NCM from Commander, Patrol and Reconnaissance Force Atlantic while serving as Mission Commander, Training Officer, Assistant Administration Officer and Aircraft Division Officer for Special Projects Patrol Squadron ONE from July 1999 to October 2001.

Lt. Cmdr. Brent George received a Gold Star in Lieu of a 2nd NCM from Commander, Naval Air Warfare Center, Aircraft Division while serving as the Aviation Safety Officer, Project Officer, and Test Naval Flight Officer, Naval Strike Aircraft Test Squadron and as Airborne Systems Flight Test Instructor, United States Naval Test Pilot School, Naval Test Wing Atlantic, Naval Air Warfare Center Aircraft Division, Patuxent River, Maryland, from July 1999 to October 2001.

In a separate ceremony, the CO presented Cmdr. Anthony Hankins with a Gold Star in lieu of a fourth Meritorious Service Medal from Command, Naval Air Systems Command, Patuxent River, Maryland, while serving as Director of Quality and Production Officer for the Naval Air Depot, Jacksonville, Florida, from August 2000 to April 2002.

-- USN --