IN the NEWS DSCA Director Refires After
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COVER INSERTED HERE 1 PLANESIDE Cover Photo CDR Stephen Weeks snapped this photo while flying in the backseat of the lead solo jet, Blue Angel #5, on 09 May 2017 during a farewell flight from the Blue Angels upon the conclusion of his Commanding Officer tour at VT-4 in Pensacola, FL. VT-4 wings all of the Naval Flight Officers for the MPRA community. NAS Pensacola/Sherman Field appears in the background, as well as Fort McCrea to the far right. PLANESIDE is a quarterly online magazine published for the Maritime Patrol Association, Inc. Copyright 2012-2017. P.O. Box 147 Orange Park, FL 32067 [email protected] * www.maritimepatrolassociation.org 2 P-8 PROVEN OVER LAND OVER SEA OVERALL Surveillance and reconnaissance. Long-range, anti-submarine capabilities. Search and rescue. The P-8 is the most capable multi-mission aircraft deployed around the world, protecting seas and securing borders. With the global supportability of a 737, P-8 delivers confi dence in an uncertain world—in any condition, anywhere, at any time. Discover more at boeing.com/p-8 3 PLANESIDE In this Issue Features: Welcome from the President 5 CPRG: Checking On Station 7 Whidbey Island Symposium Information 8 In the News: CPRW-2 Disestablishes After 80 Years 10 Vice CNO Visits NAS Jax 12 CPRG Holds Change of Command 14 DSCA Director Retires After More Than Three Decades of Naval Service 16 Community: VP-30 ‘Pro’s Nest’ Holds Change of Command 19 VP-5 “Mad Foxes” Hold 66th Change of Command 21 Cmdr. Coonan Takes Command Of VP-40 at NASWI 23 VP-4 Declared Safe for Flight 24 New ‘Trident’ Takes the Helm 27 VP-9 and the Royal Thai Navy Enhance Interoperability During Exercise 29 VP-5 Qualifies First Enlisted Sailors to Operate P-8A Engines 31 VP-16 ‘War Eagles’ Promote 45 Sailors 34 VP-9 Works with Local Love and Hope Children’s Home in El Salvador 35 VP-45 Earns Prestigious Safety ‘S’ 36 VP-5 Earns Perfect Score in Technical Proficiency Inspection 37 VP-9 and the JMSDF Strengthen Partnership during Training Exercise 39 ’Mad Foxes’ Participate in Teamwork South 2017 41 Brunswick Naval Museum & Memorial Gardens’ Launches Brick Campaign 42 Upcoming Events 44 History, Heritage & Of Interest: VP-44 at Ford Island and the Battle of Midway 47 What’s New 53 4 WELCOME From the President aritime Patrol Warriors, Ladies and Gentlemen, GreetingsM from the beautiful Pacific Northwest. It is my humble honor to introduce myself, Rob Patrick, Commodore for PATRE- CONWING 10 at NAS Whidbey Island, as one of the presidents of the Maritime Patrol Association, along with my good friend and co-president, CAPT Jim Robinson, Commodore for PATRE- CONWING 11. I am excited about this opportunity because what we are do- ing in the Maritime Patrol and Reconnaissance Force has never been more important than it is today. I believe that there is nothing more important than our national defense, and right now, there is no one closer to the fight. Over the past three decades ago, our adversaries have continued to develop and deploy increasingly advanced, highly capable, lethal weapons systems and platforms designed to inflict harm to our carrier and expeditionary strike groups and associated assets. As our Nation’s first choice for broad area maritime surveillance and rapid response, our MPRF crews and aircraft are standing the watch wherever these threats to our vital American and coali- tion interests exist. Our maintenance teams are on deployment ensuring our crews safely fly our aircraft. Our Mobile Tactical Operations Centers deploy with the squadrons to ensure our Fleet Commanders, our forward Task Force Commanders, and our allies receive the highest quality intelligence to make the best decisions. In short, our MPRF teams are postured to put aircraft on station, anywhere, anytime, to ensure that we main- CAPT Rob Patrick, USN tain our maritime superiority around the world. ing because of you. Each and every one of you has my sincere gratitude. While we continue to transition to the P-8 and Triton, the suc- cess of these platforms absolutely depends on the sustainment Finally, we look forward to hosting you at the first ever West of our legacy systems. The ramp at NAS Whidbey Island is full of Coast Maritime Patrol Symposium at NAS Whidbey Island on P-3s, which continues to fly an overwhelming number of opera- 28 and 29 September 2017. We will include many of the same tional flight hours on station. The EP-3, LSRS, and SPA aircraft events that you’ve seen at the Jax Symposium including a Flight are integral to filling warfighter gaps between the P-3 and P-8. Suit Social, a Flag Panel, heritage presentations and current op- We must maintain focus on the contribution of our legacy plat- erations briefs, P3 and P8 tours, Fleet Training Center tours, a forms as we finish our transition to the P-8 and Triton. While Spouse Symposium, a Golf Tournament and a 5K run. In addi- the airframes may be aging, the sensors and mission products tion, we’ll hold a West Coast Ball, a more formal dining event on remain cutting edge and critically important to our fleet and Thursday evening. I look forward to seeing you at NAS Whidbey Combatant Commanders, while bridging to our future force. Island in September. Adversaries, challenges, platforms and leadership come and go Thank you for your support. with time. However, what will never change is our dedicated Sailors, our asymmetric advantage. The constant work, sacri- All the best and very respectfully, fice, and commitment our Sailors bring to our great Nation at Rob Patrick home and abroad are beyond compare. Our planes provide vi- Captain, US Navy tal support to our troops on the ground and ships at sea because Commander, Patrol and Reconnaissance Wing TEN of you. Our adversaries fear us and our capabilities because President, Maritime Patrol Association, Inc. of you. In short, the maritime patrol community is succeed- 5 Back to Table of Contents During these fiscally constrainedWhat’s times, Inwe are Your often faced Wallet? with difficult choices as to what the best use of our dollar, As time passes and and our time, should be. Since its inception in 2011, mem- old sea stories bership in MPA has truly been a incredible value. of glories past float away in Dollar for dollar, you can’t argue with the benefits of mem- the wind, the bership. A year-long membership at $35 is more than off- Association is set if you are able to attend the annual symposium events a mechanism (total member savings in 2015 = $45). PLUS, the associa- for the preservation tion and its regional chapters (Jacksonville, DC, Patuxent of Maritime Patrol Heritage. River, Whidbey Island, Hawaii and Norfolk) also hold regu- Whether it’s the refurbishing of aircraft larly scheduled FREE member events around the country. from a bygone era like the P-2V at NAS Jax or the PBY “Catalina” at NAS Whidbey, members and their dollars Aside from the monetary benefits, the organization and its are what make it possible. When it comes to money and more than 1,000 members across the country enjoy a lev- time well spent, membership in the Maritime Patrol Asso- el of comradery anchored in Maritime Patrol history that ciation stands out as important, beneficial and an overall shares no rival. The association boasts representation that outstanding value. spans the spectrum of pay grades, active and retired, uni- formed and civilian, which creates invaluable networking 1) Monetary (membership pays for itself after one sym- opportunities. posium) 2) Camaraderie (Chance to get together in our ever in- Additionally, MPA has partnered with the Wings Over creasingly busy lives) America Scholarship Foundation, which offers college 3) Networking (Industry partners are members as well) scholarships to dependents of military members from the 4) Charity (Chance to make the world you live in better) US Navy’s aviation community, and awarded over $15,000 5) Preserving Maritime Patrol Heritage to a number of outstanding students since 2012. 6 CPRG Checking On Station aritime Patrol and Reconnaissance Warriors, Past and Present, M After nearly five years away, it is a truly an honor to be back with the Maritime Patrol and Reconnaissance Family. RDML Cozad is a phenomenal leader and we have been extremely blessed to have him as our Commander the past two years, he and Amy will be missed. We wish him the very best as he leads our Naval Education and Training Command on a jour- ney of continued transformation. Having spent the past few years on the Joint Staff, Naval Forces Europe/Naval Forces Africa, and forward deployed as part of a Combined Joint Task Force, I had the opportunity to view our community from “the outside.” I am pleased to pass, what we do on-station, day in and day out, is absolutely noticed, appreciated, and relevant. The future of our community is ex- tremely bright. Over the past few weeks, I have taken briefs on the commu- nity’s focus areas: 1. The continued on-schedule transition from P-3C to P-8A, to include the introduction of the Advanced Airborne Sensor and MQ-4C Triton to the fleet; 2. TacMobile integration and improvement; 3. Commitment to a Family of Systems approach to maintain our multiple intelligence (multi-INT) dominance. These focus areas remain “on target” as we work together Rear Admiral Trey Wheeler, Commander, Patrol and Reconnaissance Group. with our NAVAIR/NAVSEA Program Managers, OPNAV Re- quirements Officers, and forward CTF commanders to keep and our people must remain competent and capable of find- our community manned, trained, equipped, and combat ing the enemy and delivering effects.