Vol. 76, No. 32
VISIT GOSPORT ONLINE: www.gosportpensacola.com
NASP police assist U.S. Marshals with capture of fugitive
NIOC Pensacola change of command scheduled for Aug.16
Patrol officer takes suspect into custody without incident
From Kristin Vernier NIOC Pensacola
By Janet Thomas Gosport Staff Writer
Cmdr. Sean R. Heritage will turn over command of Navy Information Operations Command (NIOC) Pensacola to Cmdr. Patrick A. Count in a ceremony scheduled for 10 a.m. Aug. 16 at the National Naval Aviation Museum.
Cmdr. Patrick A. Count
NAS Pensacola Commanding Officer Capt. Chris Plummer congratulates NASP Police Officer Harry Torres for his arrest of a Pensacola man who was wanted in connection with in a drive-by shooting. Photo by Harry White
Under the leadership of Cmdr. Heritage since July 2010, NIOC Pensacola evolved from a team of leaders into a team that leads; a team focused on being significant, not merely successful; a team that will measure its contributions by evaluating the command in 10 years, instead of the progress made during their watch. Two words define the last two years at NIOC Pensacola: intersection and legacy. The command is now an intersection of computer network operations expertise, an intersection where best practices converge, and the intersection of Silicon Valley and traditional military mindsets. The shared legacy amongst recent and future NIOC Pensacola alums is a culture of deliberate action, thought leadership, and entrepreneurial experimentation.
NASP Chief of Police Carlton Matthews said base security personnel used a combination of quick thinking and smart tactics to arrest a fugitive who was wanted in a driveby shooting without incident. Michael Allan McCants, 24, was taken into custody by NASP Patrol Officer Harry Torres July 30 after a traffic stop near Oak Grove Park on Radford Boulevard. McCants faces several felony charges in connection with a shooting that happened in late May in Pensacola. Warrants also are on file for McCants on earlier gun and drug charges. Torres said he was on duty at the back gate and saw a car that fit the description of an alert that had been issued by law enforcement officials. The officer got into his patrol car
and chased down the vehicle. “I pulled it over for a traffic stop and asked for ID,” he said. McCants, who was a passenger in the car, said he did not have identification but confirmed that he was the fugitive that officials were tracking and did not offer any resistance, Torres said. “He complied with everything I asked him to do,” Torres said. According to a news release from the U.S. Marshals Florida Regional Fugitive Task Force and Escambia County law enforcement officers were conducting surveillance of the residence of Ikanime Ptomy, the suspect’s girlfriend. Officers notified NAS security forces that they were following Ptomy and McCants as they were driving to NASP, where Ptomy worked as a civilian employee. Matthews said the incident
See Arrest on page 7
Feds Feeds Families ahead of goal with almost month left Story, photo by MC2 Alexandra Snyder Defense Media Activity Pentagon Bureau
See NIOC on page 7
Cmdr. Sean R. Heritage
August 10, 2012
Blowing bubbles ... Samantha Fotheringham, 4, blows bubbles on the lawn of the Naval Aviation Memorial Chapel during a play period at vacation Bible school (VBS) onboard NAS Pensacola. More than 65 children participated in the program, which was held July 30 to Aug. 3. This year’s VBS theme was “Awesome Wonders Aviation.” The classrooms and main room at the J.B. McKamey Center were decorated with model aircraft, travel posters and a replica of an aircraft cockpit. For story and more photos, see page 4A. Photo by Joy Samsel
WA S H I N G T O N (NNS) – With less than a month remaining in the 2012 Feds Feed Families drive, the Department of the Navy (DoN) has donated more than 400,000 pounds of food and essential items, surpassing its original goal of 396,000 pounds. Feds Feeds Families encourages federal employees to bring nonperishable and household items to their offices for distribution to local food banks. This year, the Department of Defense set a collection goal of 1.5 million pounds. “Like marathon runners, we are leaning forward and united to ‘beat our best’ in waging war against hunger,” said Cmdr. Glenda Jennings Harrison, supervisory chaplain for operations, Commander, Navy Installations Command. “The Feds Feed Families campaign brings out a unique manifestation of esprit de corps that motivates our Sailors around the world to compassionately reflect our Navy
Volunteers for the Feds Feed Families campaign assemble boxes recently at the Pentagon.
legacy (while) accomplishing the mission to serve as a Global Force for Good.” Since the program’s inception four years ago, Navy and Marine personnel have placed boxes at collection points across bases worldwide, ensuring that all DoN staff and service members have the chance to donate, with chaplains collecting the donations on board ships. Lt. Thea Lopez, Department of the Navy component champion for Feds Feed Families, emphasized that although the program has been a success, donations should not slow. Boxes will be picked up again on all Navy region installations
Aug. 31 and donated to local food banks within their respective regions. Command Navy Region Japan has donated the most items of any Navy region – more than 220,500 pounds. All non-perishable goods are appreciated, however, there are 12 items that on the campaign’s “most wanted” list including canned fruit in light syrup or its own juices, low sodium canned vegetables, multi-grain cereals, grains, canned proteins, soups, 100 percent juices, condiments, snacks, baking goods and hygiene items. See page 7 for local Feds Feed Families information.
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.