Gosport - January 24, 2014

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Vol. 78, No. 3

VISIT GOSPORT ONLINE: www.gosportpensacola.com

January 24, 2014

NETC to change command today By Ed Barker NETC PAO

Rear Adm. Don Quinn will turn over command of the Naval Education and Training Command (NETC) to Rear Adm. Mike White today, Jan. 24, at 1 p.m. during a change

Vice Adm. Bill Moran, the Chief of Naval Personnel, will be the guest speaker for the event. Moran said that he is honored to have this opportunity to participate in this historic event. “We often talk about our people being what sets our Navy apart from all

Rear Adm. Mike White

Rear Adm. Don Quinn

of command ceremony at the National Naval Aviation Mus e u m onboard Naval Air Station (NAS) Pensacola. One of the largest shore commands in the U.S. Navy, NETC provides training for all Sailors, as well as personnel from the Marine Corps, Army, Air Force and international students from allied nations.

others – Sailors like Don Quinn and Mike White represent the best of that saying,” said Moran. “From time spent mentoring on hangar decks to critical jobs in the manpower world, Don Quinn has made a career of taking care of our Sailors and their families. He’s had a remarkable career of service and he’s had an important and positive impact on

thousands of Sailors. We wish him and his family fair winds and following seas. We also welcome Mike White back to our team – his recent fleet experience as a strike group commander will further energize the focus and effectiveness of our fleet training efforts.” Quinn said that his tour of duty at NETC was one of the most dynamic assignments of his Navy career. “For nearly 35 years I have been blessed to serve our republic alongside men and women who shared a common belief in the importance of upholding and defending a simple document – the Constitution of the United States of America,” said Quinn. “In every command to which I was assigned, I was surrounded by patriots who did not turn away from hard missions or the burden of making tough, often life threatening decisions. They lived our core values every day, and I was pleased on arrival at Naval Education and Training Command to find that those values of honor, courage, and commitment are part of the very fabric here as well. This is a great

At the Jan. 17 dedication of NAS Pensacola command headquarters Bldg. 1500 – now known as the Walter L. Richardson Building – James Nalley, left, and Andrew Bridgham unveil a plaque of Lt. Walter Leroy Richardson. Nalley is Richardson’s grandson; Bridgham is a great-grandson. Photo by Janet Thomas

NASP headquarters dedicated By Aly Altonen NASP Public Affairs Intern

Not all Navy cooks’ main focus is on the food they serve. On Jan. 17, more than 300 people attended the dedication of the NAS Pensacola command headquarters – Bldg. 1500 – in honor of Lt. Walter Leroy Richardson. He was a ship’s cook fourth class at the early part of his Navy career, and eventually established naval photography as an integral part of aviation. U.S. Rep. Jeff Miller, State Rep. Mike Hill, Rear Adm. Donald Quinn and NASP Commanding Officer Capt. Keith Hoskins were speakers at the ceremony. Richardson had a passion for photography, which lead him on the path to becoming the first official Navy photographer, as well as Naval Aviator No. 582.

“His accomplishments are a part of the very fabric of the cradle of aviation,” Quinn said in his address. Richardson received orders to organize a photographic section and played a part in planning for a naval school of aerial photography as well. More than 100 of those who attended the building’s dedication were former students of NAS Pensacola’s photography training. After relaying more history of Richardson and his achievements, Miller announced that the dedication of the NAS Pensacola headquarters was now part of Congressional Record. “Richardson’s pioneering spirit and dedication to his craft and country make it an honor,” Miller said, reading from the framed Congressional Record before presenting it to

See Richardson on page 2

See NETC on page 2

Admiral’s spouse is guest of honor at ombudsman luncheon Story, photo by Janet Thomas Gosport Staff Writer

Robin Williamson, wife of Rear Adm. Ricky Williamson, Commander, Navy Region Southeast, got the chance to meet with command leadership spouses and ombudsmen

representatives during a Jan. 21 visit to Naval Air Station Pensacola (NASP). Williamson was the guest of honor at a luncheon celebration at Mustin Beach Club. During the gathering, Luisa Fitzgerald, ombudsman for Naval Air Technical

Training Center, was introduced as the new Ombudsman assembly chair for NASP. The luncheon group also included Lori Hoskins, wife of NASP Commanding Officer Capt. Keith Hoskins; Amy Jasso, wife of NASP Executive Officer Cmdr.

Commander, Navy Region Southeast onboard NAS Pensacola ... Rear Adm. Ricky Williamson, Commander, Navy Region Southeast, was onboard Naval Air Station Pensacola Jan. 20-21 for a visit which included meeting with numerous base departments and commands. (Above) At the National Naval Aviation Museum, Williamson inspects the museum’s new energy-saving air conditioning chiller plant and speaks with Matt Ridley, a Siemens Industry Inc. energy sales executive. Photo by Mike O’Connor

David Jasso; Tonya Shank, wife of Col. Thomas B. Shank, commander of the 479th Flying Training Group; Kathleen Doherty, director of the NASP Fleet and Family Support Center; Paul Maxwell, education services facilitator and ombudsman coordinator at Fleet and Family Support Center; Tandi Blake, outgoing ombudsman for NASP; Melissa Hamilton, ombudsman for the Navy’s flight demonstration squadron, the Blue Angels; and Vinessa Conine, ombudsman for Center for Information Dominance unit at NASP Corry Station. Williamson said she has a special interest in the ombudsman program. “I have been a huge supporter of the ombudsmen program because they take such great care of our Navy families,” she said. “I went through the training a few years ago

(Left to right) Robin Williamson, wife of Rear Adm. Ricky Williamson, Commander, Navy Region Southeast, passes the gavel to Luisa Fitzgerald, ombudsman for Naval Air Technical Training Center, as Paul A. Maxwell, education services facilitator and ombudsman coordinator at Fleet and Family Support Center, stands by Jan. 21 at Mustin Beach Club. Fitzgerald was introduced as the new ombudsman assembly chair for NASP during a luncheon attended by command leadership spouses and a group of ombudsmen representatives.

before it became the condensed version of the training. I just appreciate their work, and I am so glad to spend time with them and get to know some of them today.” Maxwell said the Navy Family Ombudsman Pro-

gram was created in 1970 by Adm. E.R. Zumwalt Jr. The program’s goal is to promote healthy, self-reliant families and to improve communication between commands and

See Ombud. on page 2

Published by Ballinger Publishing, a private firm in no way connected with the Department of the Navy. Opinions contained herein are not official expressions of the Department of the Navy nor do the advertisements constitute Department of the Navy, NAS Pensacola or Ballinger Publishing’s endorsement of products or services advertised.


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