The Flagship 05.01.2025 by Military News

Secretary of the Navy John Phelan Visits PCU John F. Kennedy

CourtesyStory

PCU John F. Kennedy (CVN 79)

NEWPORT NEWS, Va The Secretary of the Navy John Phelan visited Pre-Commissioning Unit (PCU) John F. Kennedy (CVN 79) at Newport News Shipbuilding (NNS), a division of Huntington Ingalls Industries(HII),April16,2025

During the tour, the Secretary met with shipbuilders and Sailors assigned to PCU John F. Kennedy, observing ﬁrst-hand the technological advancements and craftsmanship contributing to the construction ofthesecondshipoftheGeraldR.Ford-class aircraftcarriers

ByKatieHewett Naval Air Station Oceana

Since 1904 the Navy-Marine Corps Relief Society (NMCRS) has been a steadfast resource for Sailors, Marines, and their families, helping them navigate ﬁnancial challengesandachievelong-termstability

Katy Carlsward has dedicated years to supporting Sailors and Marines through NMCRS She ﬁrst began volunteering in 2007, and has worked with NMCRS at six different locations. One of those locations includes Naval Air Station (NAS) Oceana, whereshevolunteerstoday.

“Asarelativelynewspouse,itseemedlike agoodwaytousemyskillstogivebacktothe community I was now part of,” Carlsward said.“Ithasalsobeenarelativeconstantfor meduringourNavyjourney…andthepeople I’vebeenfortunateenoughtovolunteerwith havebecomeclosefriends.”

NMCRS exists to ensure Sailors and Marinescanfocusontheirmissionwithout thestressofﬁnancialuncertainty Theorganizationprovides: Financial counseling to help Sailors and

“PCU John F. Kennedy is more than an aircraft carrier; it’s a symbol of American power,”saidPhelan.“Ihaveseentodaythat thispowerisn’tgivenbutratherbuiltbythe sweatandskillofAmericanworkers.”

The visit, coordinated by HII-NNS in partnershipwiththeU.S.Navy includedan overview of the construction of the aircraft carrier and an engagement with the ship’s crew

“We are honored to welcome our Secretary of the Navy and showcase the tremendous efforts of our Sailors and our shipbuilding partners,” said Captain Doug Langenberg, commanding officer of PCU John F. Kennedy “We are working hard

Marinescreatearoadmapforfiscalstability Confidentialfinancialassistancethrough interest-freeloansandgrants

Thrift shops to save money on uniforms clothing andhouseholdessentials

Classes like “Budget for Baby to help expectant parents prepare for a newchild.

A visiting nurses programtoprovidehealth educationandsupport

According to Carlsward, NMCRS strives to meet the needs of today’s Sailors and Marines by providing services and programs based on the obstacles that they may face

everydaytodeliveracombat-readyaircraft carrier with a trained and certiﬁed crew, readytomeeteverychallenge,readytoﬁght andwin.”

PCU John F. Kennedy (CVN 79) is the secondaircraftcarrierintheFordClass,the ﬁrstnewclassinmorethan40years

At 1,092 feet in length and 100,000 tons CVN 79 represents dramatic advances in propulsion, power generation, ordnance handling,andaircraftlaunchsystems These innovations will support a higher sortie generation rate at signiﬁcant cost savings when compared to Nimitz-class carriers. The Gerald R. Ford class also offers a considerable reduction—approximately $4

uestovolunteer

“Every time I’m able to help a service memberandtheirfamilyseeawayforward, often just by working through their budget with an objective lens it’s a win, she said.

“Like everything else, as we learn more… weadapt,”shesaid.

Carlsward has witnessed firsthand how NMCRSmakesadifference WhetherhelpingayoungSailorcreatetheirfirstbudgetor assisting a Marine in an unexpected financialcrisis,forher,it’sthereasonshecontin-

“There have been many cases where a service member comes in feeling defeated and leaves prepared to make some changesandimprovetheir ﬁnancial outlook. These cases are what keeps me coming back and wanting tohelp.”

Beyond individual cases,NMCRScontributes to readiness by reducing ﬁnancial stress, allowing Sailors and Marines to focusontheirdutieswithoutdistraction.

“We need our service members to be focusedonthemission notworryingabout theirﬁnances,”Carlswardsaid.“Abudgetto helpthemplangoingforward,andtheability toprovideimmediatesupportmakesaworld ofdifferenceinanindividual’smindset.”

billionpership—inlifecycleoperationsand supportcostscomparedtotheearlierNimitz class The new technology and warfighting capabilities that John F. Kennedy brings to the ﬂeet will transform naval warfare, supporting a more capable and lethal forward-deployed U.S. naval presence In an emerging era of great power competition, CVN 79 will serve as the most agile and lethal combat platform globally, with improved systems that enhance interoperabilityamongotherplatformsinthecarrier strike group and with the naval forces of regionalalliesandpartners

Carlsward encourages those who are considering volunteering with NMCRS to embrace the opportunity to make a signiﬁcantimpactonsomeone’slife.

“If directly supporting servicemembers andtheirfamilieswiththeirﬁnancesisyour passion, NMCRS is the place for you, she said. “From assisting with casework, working in the thrift shop, or providing ﬁnancial counseling, you’ll make an immediate difference in someone’s life The bonus is the community you’ll have the opportunity toworkwith!”

For any Sailor or Marine facing ﬁnancial difficulties, Carlsward urges them to reach out.

“We are here to support you and want to be your ﬁrst resource, not your last resort,” she said. “Even if we can’t ﬁnancially assist you for whatever reason, we will always be able to give you resources and suggestions fornextsteps.” For more information about NMCRS how to donate to this year’s Active Duty FundDrive,ortoseekassistance,visitwww. nmcrs.org

NAVSTA Norfolk launches Intelligent Mail Lockers in Willis Manor barracks

ByYeomanSeamanKyaRobinson

NORFOLK Va Naval Station Norfolk celebrated a major quality-of-life upgrade for its junior Sailors with the installation of new Intelligent Mail Lockers at the Willis Manor barracks, marked by a ribbon-cuttingceremonyonApril2.

The state-of-the-art mail lockers, installed through a collaboration betweenFleetLogisticsCenter(FLC)Norfolkandthebase’sUnaccompaniedHousingteam,offer24/7secureaccesstopackages,eliminating misseddeliveries,longlines,andlimitedpickupwindows

“Safety,securityandqualityoflifearemytopprioritiesforthebase,” said Capt. Matthew Schlarmann, commanding officer of NAVSTA Norfolk. “These new Intelligent Mail Lockers are more than just a convenience they’re a smart investment in a modern secure living environmentforourunaccompaniedpersonnel.

ThelockersrepresentasigniﬁcantimprovementformanySailorswho relyonmaildeliveryasavitalconnectiontohome,family,andessential items Thenewsystemprovidesﬂexibilityandpeaceofmind,reducing thestressassociatedwithtraditionalmailroomlimitations

“With these lockers, we’re removing the uncertainty from mail pickup,” said Capt. Mordocai Kiﬂu, executive officer at FLC Norfolk “Sailors no longer have to worry about rearranging their schedules or missing a package This gives them back control and eases one more burdenfromtheirbusylives.”

ThiseffortispartofabroaderpushbyNAVSTANorfolktomodernize baseinfrastructureandenhanceday-to-daylifeforitsSailors Projects liketheIntelligentMailLockersreﬂectafocusedcommitmenttoreadinessthroughimprovedmoraleandsupport.

“Thisinitiativesendsaclearmessage:wearededicatedtothewell-being of our Sailors,” Schlarmann said. “When we take care of the little things itfreesourpeopletofocusonthemission.”

Theceremony,whichbeganatnoon concludedat12:45p.m.,officially usheringinaneweraofstreamlined,securemailservicefortheSailors whocallWillisManorhome

757-262-2852 | amanda.s.kitchner.mil@us.navy.mil

Leading by example: FRCE supervisor receives Navy League safety award

SamanthaMorse

Fleet Readiness Center East

MARINE CORPS AIR STATION

CHERRY POINT, N.C. Dedication to safety excellence has earned a Fleet Readiness Center East (FRCE) supervisor the Admiral Vern Clark Safety Award for ﬁscal year2024

Angelo Owens, who serves as the depot’s Safety and Occupational Health Division director was acknowledged during the 2025 Sea-Air-Space Exposition’s Navy League Luncheon April 8 at the Gaylord National Resort and Convention Center in NationalHarbor,Maryland.Owens’receipt oftheawardmarkedthesecondtimeinthe award’s10-yearhistorythatamemberofthe Naval Air Systems Command’s workforce hasbeenrecognizedwiththehonor Presented annually by the Navy League oftheUnitedStates theAdmiralVernClark and General James L. Jones Safety Awards honor individuals, units or organizations within the Department of the Navy whose outstanding contributions to safety planning and execution have fostered a culture of safety in their workforce. The awards celebrate those whose efforts have made safety integral to mission success, reduced fatalities and mishaps and had a measurableimpactonthecommand’soverallsafety program.

“It’s an honor to accept this award on behalf of FRC East,” said Owens “Even though this is considered an individual award,Ifeelit’sreﬂectiveofthecommandas awholebecauseitwasonlypossiblethrough teamwork This award recognizes and the effortsofsomanypeoplewhohavecontributedtothesuccessofoursafetyprograms.”

Brian Snow, who serves as the Deputy Safety director under Owens’ supervision, saidhenominatedOwensforthisawarddue tothemajorimpactOwenshasmadeonthe depot’s safety program since his arrival at FRCEin2020

“Angelo has been the driving force in reducing risks for FRC East employees,” said Snow “Leveraging Navy directives Occupational Safety and Health Administration regulations and Voluntary Protection Program tools, he effectively leads his team toward success, ensuring the highest standards of safety and compliance He is a no-nonsense, consummate safety professionalwhofullyunderstandstheimportance ofsafetyinanindustrialenvironmentandis relentlessinhispursuitofreducinginjuries andillnesses.”

AmyMorgan,Owens’supervisorandhead of the command’s Compliance and Quality Department, said Owens is exactly what she was looking for when recruiting for the

Safety and Occupational Health Division directorposition.

“Angelo is extremely skilled and accomplished,”saidMorgan.“Hecameinwithalot ofreal-worldexperience professionalcertiﬁcations and education This is a complex industrialenvironmentandtheworkwedo here supports a very important mission. I knewbringinghimin,hewouldnotonlybe abletoleadtheteambutalsoliftthemup.”

PriortohiscareeratFRCE,Owensserved in the Navy for 24 years, during which he wasanelectrician,deep-seadiverandexplosive ordnance disposal technician. Owens said he has been able to apply a lot of what helearnedduringhistimeinthemilitaryto hiscurrentrole

“I started out as an electrician and in 1984,Iwenttoadeep-seadiverschool,”said Owens “There,weusedthesametypesofair

samples to test the scuba air that we use to test the air here at the depot. I then became an explosive ordnance disposal technician. We would dive, parachute, and we worked on all foreign and domestic ordnances includingbothimprovisedexplosivedevices and nuclear chemical and biological weapons

“For each position I held, came a new set of rules, regulations and training requirements, all of which focused on keeping us safe while performing very high-risk and dangerous operations,” Owens continued.

“When I transitioned to my current position, having that background knowledge and experience along with a good understandingoftheNavy’ssafetyproceduresand protocols,wasveryhelpful.FRCEasthasan explosives safety program and a radiation safety program, and I was able to bring the

knowledge I gained as a master explosive disposaltechnicianintheNavyandapplyit tothoseprograms.”

In recent years, Owens has focused on improvingsomeofthedepot’smajorcompliance programs including the Confined Space Program, Explosives Safety Program andRadiationSafetyProgram,accordingto Morgan She said these efforts have played a major role in the facility’s standing in the Naval Aviation Maintenance Program and recentinspection. “Angelo has placed a particular emphasis on strengthening these programs, and we are seeing the fruits of his labor,” said Morgan. “If not managed properly each of these programs has the potential to cause seriousinjury Drawingfromhisvastknowl-

TurntoSafetyAward, Page 5

U.S.,Frenchstrengtheninteroperability during Exercise Chesapeake 2025

NORFOLK Va

The Harpers Ferryclass dock landing ship USS Oak Hill (LSD 51)leftNavalStationNorfolktoday,toparticipateinExerciseChesapeake2025withthe French Marine Nationale in the U.S. 2nd Fleetareaofoperations.

Exercise Chesapeake aims to enhance interoperability,strengthentheU.S./French bilateral defense partnership and increase theunderstandingofalliedcapabilities

“As the U.S. Navy celebrates 250 years of warﬁghting excellence, it’s ﬁtting that we conduct Exercise Chesapeake with the French navy,” said Vice Adm. Doug Perry, commander, U.S. 2nd Fleet “U.S and France’s monumental military and diplomaticalliancehelpedtosecureournation’s independencein1783 jumpstartingastrategicdefenserelationshipthatendurestoday.”

During Exercise Chesapeake, U.S. and French naval forces will conduct flight operations,landingcraftaircushioncertiﬁcations,amphibiousoperations,andpersonnel exchanges to enhance interoperability and further develop their ability to oper-

ate together effectively Each event will see forces and assets from the historic allies workingsidebyside,ofteninterchangeably to further prove the two nations’ ability to ﬁghtandwintogether Ultimately,highlighting our shared commitment to global security which testiﬁes to the special bond that weshareacrosstheAtlantic. Participating units from the U.S. Navy include Commander, U.S. 2nd Fleet; Amphibious Squadron 4; USS OAK HILL (LSD 51); and Naval Beach Group TWO to include Beachmaster Unit TWO (BMU 2) and Assault Craft Unit FOUR (ACU 4), and a detachment from Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron(HSC)28

“Exercise Chesapeake gives us a vital opportunity to sharpen our readiness and strengthen our relationship with a key NATO ally,” said Col. Ben Reid, commandingofficer 26thMarineExpeditionaryUnit and Special Purpose Marine Air-Ground Task Force Alert Contingency MAGTF (SPMAGTF-ACM). “Training side by side with the French 13th Marine Infantry Brigade deepens our interoperability and ensures we’re ready to respond together anywhere,anytime.”

U.S. Marine Corps units include Marine Forces Command; II Marine Expeditionary Force, and the Special Purpose Marine Air-GroundTaskForce AlertContingency MAGTF (SPMAGTF-ACM) comprised of the26MEUCommandElement;2ndBattalion, 2nd Marine Regiment; Combat Logistics Battalion 22; Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 261; and Marine Fighter Attack Squadron542 Alongside U.S. forces, involved French units include the Mistral-class amphibious assault and command ship FS Mistral (L 9013)andLaFayette-classfrigateFSSurcouf (F 711) The two French ships comprise the Jeanne d’Arc Task Group, which left from Toulon, France, for an annual ﬁve-month midshipmen deployment to the Atlantic and Arctic Circle region. Other participating French units include a detachment of the 6th Army Cavalry Brigade composed by French Foreign Legion Units; a tactical staff a command section, a cavalry platoon of the 1st Foreign Cavalry Regiment, a 120 mm mortar support section convertible into an infantry combat section of the 13th Foreign Legion Demi-Brigade, and a beach interventionunitofthe1stForeignEngineer

Regiment.

“One could not ﬁnd a name more appropriate than Chesapeake, for it is a timeless reminder of our nations’ naval cooperation, said Capt. Quentin Vieux-Rochas, commanding officer, FS Mistral (L 9013). “We are glad that our officers-in-training havetheopportunitytoembracethisenduring partnership early on in their career and look forward to showcasing our proven interoperability once more. The Jeanne d’ArcTaskGroupandallitscomponentsare proud of taking part in this ambitious exercise,pinnacleofourdeploymentandsymbol ofourfriendship.”

U.S. 2nd Fleet, reestablished in 2018 in response to the changing global security environment, develops and employs maritime ready forces to ﬁght across multiple domainsintheAtlanticandArcticinorderto ensure access, deter aggression and defend U.S. allied,andpartnerinterests. FormoreU.S.2ndFleetnewsandphotos visit facebook.com/US2ndFleet, X -@ US2ndFleet, and https://www.linkedin. com/company/commander-u-s-2nd-ﬂeet.

Mid-AtlanticRegionalMaintenance Center holds change of command

ByHarrisonCox

Mid-Atlantic Regional Maintenance Center

NORFOLK, Va (NNS) Capt. Dan Hemminger relieved Capt Jay Young as commandingofficer,Mid-AtlanticRegional Maintenance Center (MARMC) during a change of command ceremony onboard Naval Station Norfolk, April 25 MARMC is responsible for providing surface ship maintenance, management and oversight of private sector maintenanceandﬂeettechnicalassistancetoships in the Mid-Atlantic region of the United States and provides support to the 5th and 6thFleetAreaofResponsibilities Theyare also responsible for the ﬂoating dry-dock Dynamic (AFDL-6).

Director Surface Ship Maintenance Modernization and Sustainment, Rear Adm. Bill Greene served as guest speaker and highlighted Capt Young’s leadership and steadfast commitment to the mission.

“Capt. Jay Young and the MARMC team haverisentoeverychallenge;maintaining, modernizingandrepairingourwarshipsso theyaremissionready Jayledbyexample withanemphasisoncommitment communication teamworkandtrust.Throughhis leadership, he created an environment at MARMC where people could be successful,andtheyinturnensuredthecommand wassuccessful Jayandhisteamhavetruly exempliﬁed the MARMC motto “we ﬁx ships”! Commander Navy Regional Maintenance Center Rear Admiral Dan Lannamann was the presiding officer for the Change of Command Ceremony and shared a few words.

“Jay has done fantastic work at the helm ofMARMCduringhistenure Hehastaken theteamtonewheightsandhisdedication and commitment to the mission has been paramounttothecommand’ssuccess The impactyouhavehadandachievementsyou haveledarefundamentaltothefoundation of MARMC Jay.

Dan, I am looking forward to the work you will seamlessly take on as the next CO of MARMC Your vast experience and outstanding leadership qualities make you

the perfect ﬁt for the role I know you will continue to build upon the great achievements of this team, who stands ready to welcome you.”

During Young’s three years as CO MARMCsupportedmaintenanceavailabilities consisting of 33 Chief of Naval Operations (CNO) availabilities, 236 Continuous Maintenance Availabilities (CMAVs), and over 35,000 Fleet Tech Assists Additionally, MARMC was awarded the Regional MaintenanceCenterawardfortwoconsecutive years during Young’s command MARMC also successfully completed major work on the USS Ross (DDG-71) duringan18-monthExtendedDry-Docking Selected Restricted Availability (EDSRA). Theworkincludedunderwaterhullmaintenance, combat system upgrades, main

propulsion system repairs, preservation of internal ballast and fuel tanks and external superstructure, and crew berthing and dining compartment rehabilitation. A signiﬁcant upgrade involved replacing the rubber window on the sonar dome.

During his speech, Young praised the workanddedicationofthemenandwomen at MARMC who served during his tenure.

“I am particularly proud that we have strengthenedourcommitmenttothewellbeingofourpeoplebybringingaboardtwo licensedprofessionalcounselorsinmental health, a chaplain, a new medical officer andestablishingourHumanFactorsCouncil, saidYoung.“AtMARMC,werecognize thatmaintainingﬂeetreadinessbeginswith maintainingthereadinessofourmostvaluable asset our people The demanding

nature of our work requires us to be just as vigilant about our mental health as we are our technical excellence This investment reﬂectsourunwaveringbeliefthatsupporting our team’s total health is not just the right thing to do, it is a mission imperative When we take care of our people, they can focus on taking care of the ﬂeet.

Capt Hemminger Ihavecompleteconﬁdence in your readiness to take command. Your deep understanding of waterfront operations will prove invaluable during your tenure as skipper Your leadership capabilities are exceptional, and I know thiscommandwillcontinuetoexcelunder your guidance I wish you every success, and should you ever need counsel, please do not hesitate to reach out.”

Capt. Hemminger received his commissionfromtheUnitedStatesNavalAcademy, where he received his Bachelor of Science inOceanEngineering Upongraduation,he reportedtotheNavalPostGraduateSchool andearnedaMasterofScienceinMechanical Engineering Following lateral transfer to the Engineering Duty Officer (EDO) community Captain Hemminger completed his initial qualifying tour at Southwest Regional Maintenance Center Subsequent repair and diving/salvage assignments included Assistant Officer-in-Charge of Forward Deployed Regional Maintenance Center (FDRMC) Detachment Rota, Spain and CommandSalvageOfficeratMobileDiving and Salvage Unit (MDSU) ONE. Since 2020 hehascompletedtoursastheSurface Maintenance Branch Head for U.S. Fleet Forces Command Director of Fleet Maintenance(N43),WaterfrontOperationsOfficer at Mid Atlantic Regional Maintenance Center and Chief of Staff at Commander Navy Regional Maintenance Center For more information about MARMC, visit: https://www.dvidshub.net/unit/ MARMC

Navy Medicine shines a spotlight on IT department

ByPettyOfficer2ndClass

SashaAmbrose

U.S. Navy Bureau of Medicine and Surgery

In today’s fast-paced digital world, the backbone of any successful organization is its Information Technology (IT) department Helpdesktechniciansworktirelessly behindthescenestoensurethateverything fromnetworkstosoftwaresystemstocybersecurityrunsmoothly,allowingNavyMedicinetostayconnectedandready

At U.S. Navy Bureau of Medicine and Surgery (BUMED), the IT and CommunicationServices(ITACS)departmentplaysa crucialroleinsupportingwarﬁghtingoperations fromtroubleshootingtechnicalissues to implementing innovative solutions that driveefficiencyandreadiness

Led by Francis Dada, department head and a native of Brooklyn, New York, he has built a dynamic team over the last six years that’s dedicated to providing timely and accurateservicestoover1,000userslocated atDefenseHealthHeadquarters

“ITACS is the foundation for all we do here at Navy Medicine,” Dada said. “Our leadership, military, civilians, and contractorswouldn’tbeabletofacilitateandexecute the [surgeon general’s] mission without a cybersecurity footprint to ensure that our informationanddataisprotected.”

The department is made up of a team of technicians, administrators, support staff, and asset managers allowing each to focus on their own set of skills like cybersecurity assetmanagement mobiledevices,and system integration, accommodating the evolvingneedsoftheirusers

Tyrone Baugh, a native of Croton-onHudson, New York, and senior help desk support remarked, “We have a behind the scenes job Everybody has a mission here, fromdoctorstonursetocivilianstoenlisted Sailors who all have a forward-facing job that we directly effect by making sure that

theyarefullyfunctionaland can keep Navy Medicine moving.”

Dada began working at BUMEDinSeptember2019, andshortlyafter thedepartmenthadtoshiftthescopeof theirrolesintoanewarena.

“I first came here just beforethepandemic,which was a very challenging time aswehadtopivotquicklyto supporting a remote work staff, so it really allowed me and the team to step up to the plate and test our bandwidth. Those experience tested me in ways I couldn’t have anticipated, but Navy Medicine exceeded my expectations tenfold in so manypositiveways.”

Inthelastsixyears,ITACS hasseenahostofchallenges and opportunities but the team always rises to the occasion to solve problems andstayaheadoftechnologicaltrends

“The best part of my job is getting to help people It’s important to be sincere and keep smiling in this job, because when people come to us something is going wrongandtheyneeditﬁxed, and honestly they’re not alwaysinthebestofmoods,” explainedBaugh.“Sowehavetoreﬂectpositivity onto them and get them back to work asefficientlyaspossible.”

As the Navy continues to adapt and embrace technology, a highly skilled IT department is not only essential for day-today operations, but they also play a critical roleinsupportingoperationalreadinessand

safeguardingsensitiveinformation.

“My career has always been about supporting the military,” concluded Dada. “TheNavywastheﬁrstmissionIsupported, so I had a good relationship here, and I’ve alwayslovedtheideaofbeingabletosupport our country via the military and their technologyspace.”

For 250 years, Navy Medicine represented by more than

Flag Writer recognized as 2025 Senior Sailor of the Year

Yeoman 1st Class Joseph Hunt, a native of Surveyor, West Virginia, was announced as the U.S. Navy Bureau of Medicine and Surgery’s Senior Sailor of the Year (SSOY), Fiscal Year 2025, at Defense Health Headquarters,April14,2025

Hunt coordinated 63 senior leader meetings that impacted 430,000 personnel planned and executed 23 flag-level events acrossallareasofresponsibilitywithinNavy Medicine, while providing direct support and counsel to senior leadership He also fostered a collaborative environment for five junior flag writers that he personally mentors and was a champion of command resilience initiatives that resulted in a 60% DEOCSsurveycompletionrate

“Being named SSOY means a lot to me because it showcases the leadership that my mentors, teammates, peers, family and friends have instilled in me throughout my years of service,” explained Hunt. “It is an honortorepresentBUMEDastheSSOYand shows anything can be achieved through hard work, dedication, and a good team behind you pushing you to be better every day!” Hunt was hand-selected by Rear Adm. Darin K. Via, Chief, BUMED, to fill the critical E-8 billet as his ﬂag writer, a role that would ask a lot of any Sailor, but Hunt exceededthoseexpectationsandenhanced command efficiency, readiness and morale alongtheway.

“YN1Hunt’shumility,composure,extensive knowledge and desire to assist others up and down the chain of command is only butafractionoftheattributesofwhyhewas selected as BUMED Headquarters SSOY, said Command Master Chief Xavier Johnson. “YN1’s ability to recognize opportunitiesforimprovementandcapitalizeonthem reverberatethroughoutthecommand.”

Outside of his normal duties, Hunt also took on collateral duties within BUMED, includingbeingacommandsponsor co-lead

edge of these programs, he has organized additionaltrainingforourprogrammanagersandfundingtopurchaseupdatedequipment.Theseeffortshaveprovensuccessful, asdemonstratedinourmostrecentAircraft Maintenance Inspection; where we saw signiﬁcantimprovementsintheseareasand achievedanoverallscoreof96%.” Morgan said Owens has helped mitigate the many of the depot’s most serious and expensive safety and health hazards by pursuing nontraditional training and funding sources to supplement the command’s currenttrainingopportunitiesfortheworkforce

“Angelo went out in search of external sources that would either provide free training or fund training for our workforce and he was successful,” said Morgan. “He didn’t just sit back and say, ‘Okay, I’m going tolivewithwhatweareabletopayforhere.’ He really pushed and leaned into ﬁnding other resources that have helped to further develop our safety programs and keep our workforcesafe.”

Inadditiontohisingenuity,Snowbelieves Owen’s leadership style and go-getter atti-

for the Navy-Marine Corps Relief Society, and was recently appointed as the assistant suicidepreventioncoordinator demonstratingimpactandcommitmenttoservingboth hiscountryandhisshipmates

Inreportingseniorremarks,Capt Romeo Tizon, director of Headquarters Operations, wrote, “Petty Officer Hunt thrives in a demanding, two-star environment at BUMEDheadquarters,consistentlyexceedingexpectations Hisexceptionalworkethic andremarkablematurityhavequicklyestablished him as a trusted advisor and indispensableleader.”

SinceenlistingintheNavyintheSeaman Professional Apprenticeship Career Track (PACT)programinOctober2009,Hunthas consistentlypushedhimselftoachievemore WhileassignedtoElectronicAttackSquadron(VAQ136),heplayedakeyroleinOperationTomodachiin2011,volunteeringtostay behindafterthetsunamiwithanotherSailor to ensure all families were evacuated back state-side

Later he was hand-picked to attend the Flag Writer C School in Meridian, Mississippi before being accepted into the Flag WriterProgram.Currently,Huntisstudying for a bachelor’s degree in Homeland SecuritywithaminorinMilitaryHistory

Hunt will represent BUMED at the Navy Medicine Sailor of the Year competition, where one outstanding Navy Medicine Sailorwillbemeritoriouslypromotedtothe rankofchiefpettyofficer

The“SailoroftheYear”isatime-honored traditionintroducedbyChiefofNavalOperations, Adm. Elmo Zumwalt and Master Chief Petty Officer of the Navy John Whittet in 1972 This annual competition is held to recognize the superior performance of individualSailors whoexceedinpersonifyingtheidealsoftheNavyCoreValues

For 250 years, Navy Medicine represented by more than 44,000 highly-trained military and civilian healthcare professionals has delivered quality healthcare and enduring expeditionary medical support to thewarﬁghteron,below,andabovethesea, andashore.

tude have played a signiﬁcant role in the successofthedepot’ssafetyprograms

“His leadership style, which focuses on providingguidanceandsupport,hasbrought thesafetyteamtogetherandmotivatedthem to put forth their best efforts,” said Snow. “Once a plan is in place, they know they have his full backing as it is carried out. He motivatestheteamtothinkcreativelywhen tacklingchallengingissues,whileremaining vigilant for potential hazards and offering guidancewhenevernecessary.”

Owenssaidbyempoweringhisteammates tosucceed,heisnotonlysettingthemupfor success,butalsothecommand

“One of the biggest things I focus on is doingeverythingIcandohelpthosearound me improve and excel, said Owens. “I look at each individual and think of how I can build that individual up, and make them a stronger, smarter and better professional with greater opportunities Whether this is accomplished through additional training, one-on-one chats or creating a completely differentworkﬂow IdowhateverIcando tohelp Focusingontheircareerandknowledge growth in turn helps me accomplish our mission, which is to protect our workforceandpromoteourcommand.”

Owens said that concept of safety as a team effort extends throughout FRCE and

evenbeyondthecommand

“Notonlyisitthesupervisorsandemployees who perform the work, it’s also our entireQualityandComplianceDepartment and the executive leadership team,” said Owens. “Then you add in our higher echelons: Commander Fleet Readiness Centers and Naval Air Systems Command, as well as the Department of the Navy, the Department of Labor and the Occupational Safety and Health Administration. They have all contributedtooursuccessbysupportingour goalsandthesafetyofourpersonnel.

“We’ve worked very hard to ensure the command’ssafetyprogramsremaininplace and effective, but its success ultimately depends on the employees and supervisors that are performing the work, Owens continued “We must collaborate, work as a team and empower every member of our workforce with the knowledge and understandingofhowweapproachsafetyandwhy wedoitthatway.”

Instilling a culture of safety throughout the command beneﬁts both FRCE and the ﬂeet,saidMorgan.

“Byhavingacommandthatisfocusedon the safety of our FRC East family, we have morepeoplewhoarehealthy,hereeveryday andreadytosupportthemissionofthewarfighter,” said Morgan. “The less injuries we

have,thelesscostthatistothecommandand the greater Navy It’s a win-win situation in thatourworkforceremainssafeandishere tosupportthemission,andit’slesscostly.”

According to Owens, keeping the workforcesafeandsavingtaxpayerdollarsarenot only the primary goals of the depot’s safety program theyarehisgoals aswell.

“What I really focus on and what I really desire is to eliminate serious injuries and fatalities,” said Owens “Our primary purpose is to get aircraft in and out as fast as we can. Every time someone gets hurt, depending on the severity of the injury, we lose time, manpower and money By providing the proper training and personal protectiveequipment,wecanpreventthese injuries mitigate lost manpower and save themoneywewouldhavepaidoutformedicalcosts,allofwhichhelpsustogetaircraft backtotheﬂeetfasterandmoreefficiently.”

FRCE is North Carolina’s largest maintenance, repair, overhaul and technical services provider, with more than 4,000 civilian, military and contract workers Its annualrevenueexceeds$1billion.Thedepot providesservicetotheﬂeetwhilefunctioning as an integral part of the greater U.S. Navy; Naval Air Systems Command; and Commander,FleetReadinessCenters

CHURCH,Va Aneese

FALLS CHURCH,Va Yeoman 1st ClassJoseph Hunt a native

SUPSHIPNN shines in 2024 Navy Financial Management Awards

ByTellyB.Myles Supervisor

of Shipbuilding Newport News

NEWPORT NEWS, Va A distinguished, multi-disciplinary team from the SupervisorofShipbuilding Conversion,and Repair Newport News (SUPSHIPNN) has earned top honors in the prestigious 2024 Department of the Navy (DON) Financial Management (FM) Awards Recognized in the“ContributiontoOptimizeStewardship intheBudgetProcess”categoryforEchelon II and above, this award celebrates efforts that enhance operational responsiveness, ﬁnancial stewardship and trust across the Navy 22April2025

Driving this achievement was the Refueling Complex Overhaul (RCOH) Aged Contract Closeout Initiative Team, an exceptional group of ﬁnancial, contracting, and legal experts Leading the charge

fromSUPSHIPNNwereDeputyComptroller Maureen M. Mackey, Contracting Officers Melissa Browning-Duer and Virginia Petrella,PerformanceAnalystGladysCeballos-Asterita, General Business & Industrial SpecialistJinHawkins andAssociateCounsel Alanna Whybrew Their efforts were guidedbyJaneMeifromtheProgramExecutiveOfficeforAircraftCarriers,In-Service Aircraft Carrier Program (PMS 312), and Melinda Matheny from Naval Sea Systems Command (NAVSEA), Comptroller (SEA 01), setting a new standard in ﬁnancial efficiency Over an intense 16-month period, the team successfully closed 54 contracts and taskordersvaluedat$6.9billion includinga singlesettlementof$13.2million.Theirdiligentworkledtotheresolutionofnearly500 contractlinesdatingbackto1986—allbefore active funds expired in Fiscal Year 2024

This marked the ﬁrst implementation of theDefenseFederalAcquisitionRegulation Supplement (DFARS) 204.804, an innovativeapproachintroducedthroughtheFY17, FY18, and FY20 National Defense Authorization Acts By streamlining administrative processes this initiative safeguarded NAVSEA’s buying power and established a scalable model for efficiently closing aged shipbuildingcontractsacrosstheenterprise Adding to their accolades, the RCOH Aged Contract Closeout Initiative Team also earned the Fiscal Year 2024 NAVSEA Excellence Award for Financial Management, further highlighting their signiﬁcant contributions Additional team members including Sabrina Wiggins Curtis Maye Queshana Long, Eric Larios, and Samantha Hogue, played crucial roles in this success, cementing the team’s reputation for excellence

The Contribution to Optimize Stewardship in the Budget Process Award is a key component of the Navy Financial Management Awards Program, recognizing individuals and teams that improve the budget processthroughgreaterefficiency accountability andoperationalresponsiveness This honor underscores the Navy’s unwavering commitment to responsible financial managementandinnovativesolutionsinan evolvingfiscallandscape SUPSHIPNN and its partners have not only set a new benchmark within the NAVSEA Enterprise but also created a frameworkforfuturefinancialmanagement initiatives Their dedication to excellence and forward-thinking approach exemplify the transformative impact of collaboration and strong leadership in advancing financial stewardship across the Department of theNavy

NMRC hosts tour for USNA midshipmen

Naval Medical Research Command (NMRC) hosted 14 midshipmen from the U.S.NavalAcademyonApril24 foratourof NMRC’sfacilitiesandcapabilities

NMRC staff and leadership briefed the midshipmen, all recently accepted into medical school, on the command’s labs, operations and opportunities to help them better understand Navy Medicine capabilities, and to prepare them to begin their careers as the future generation of Navy Medicineofficers

“At NMRC we don’t just do research for the Navy, we develop the medical minds of tomorrow that will lead Navy Medicine and research in the future operational environments,” said Cmdr Rhonda Lizewski, deputy science director with NMRC. “We had the opportunity to demonstrate to senior midshipmen that are accepted to medical school how we integrate the operationalneedsoftheNavywithcutting-edge research and development that is uniquely tailored to support the Navy and Marine Corpswarﬁghtingteam.

NMRCengageswithacademiaregularly, fosteringinterestinU.S.Navycareeropportunities to recruit and retain critical medical support personnel. The command also routinely hosts tours of its scientiﬁc spaces to showcase NMRC’s unique capabilities andcontributionstotheNavymission.

“This experience was different because I gettoseetheresearchsideofthingsandhow research works with the operational navy,” said midshipman 1st class Daba Fofana, a future Medical Corps officer. “As a future physician, it is helpful to know all sides of medicine Itgivesusamoreholisticviewof whatourimpactwillbewhenwechooseour specialtiesaftermedicalschool.”

In reaching out to students and recent graduates, NMRC can increase interest in Navy and Military Medicine fields critical to military readiness, such as microbiology, entomology, physiology and virology. By introducing potential candidates and interestedmindstoNMRC’smission,itishelping to grow the future U.S. Navy workforce to ensurewarfighterhealthandlethality NMRC, headquarters of Navy Medicine Research & Development, is engaged in a broad spectrum of activity from basic science in the laboratory to field studies in austere and remote areas of the world to investigations in operational environ-

SILVERSPRING,Md (April 24 2025) Frederic Poly with Naval Medical Research Command (NMRC),briefsvisiting midshipmen from the U.S. NavalAcademyon NMRC facilities,capabilities and opportunities to betterprepare them as future members ofNavyMedicine’s mission to ensurewarfighterreadiness and lethality In support ofthe Navy Marine Corps,and joint U.S.warfighters,researchers studyinfectious diseases, biologicalwarfare detection and defense,combat casualtycare,environmental health concerns,aerospace and undersea medicine,medical modeling,simulation,operational mission support,epidemiologyand behavioral sciences For250years,NavyMedicine,represented bymore than 44,000 highly-trained militaryand civilian healthcare professionals,has delivered qualityhealthcare and enduring expeditionarymedical support to thewarfighteron,below,and above the sea and ashore (U.S.NAVYPHOTOSBYELLIOTTPAGE/RELEASED)

ments. In support of Navy Marine Corps and joint U.S. warﬁghter health, readiness and lethality, researchers study infectious diseases, biological warfare detection and defense,combatcasualtycare,environmentalhealthconcerns,aerospaceandundersea medicine, operational mission support and epidemiology

SILVERSPRING,Md (April 24 2025) Naval Medical Research Command (NMRC) hosts midshipmen from the U.S.NavalAcademy.

Pentagon opens doors to the new generation for ‘Bring Your Child to Work Day’

The defense secretarywelcomed more than 8,300 children ofPentagon employees during “BringYourChild toWorkDay”April 24 PageB6

ByBillMesta USN Military Sealift Command

The Civil Service Mariners (CIVMAR)

who crew Military Sealift Command’s 56 government owned/government operated (GO/GO) ships will soon be able to use a shipboard Wi-Fi for internet access to conduct both professional and personal tasks while aboard their assigned vessel, viatheCivilianMarinerWirelessNetwork (CivMar WiN).

The CivMar WiN project is a multi-year implementation effort to provide secure internet access for CIVMARs’ approved personalelectronicdevicessuchasmobile phones and computers

“Wi-Fi is a wireless technology that allows devices to connect to the internet using radio waves,” according to Eliot J. Skinner Military Sealift Command DeputyDirector,C4Systems(N6A).“Once installed,CIVMARsaboardMSC’sGO/GO shipswillbeabletoregistertheirapproved personal electronic devices to the wireless network for seamless internet access.”

“Providing internet access to support CIVMAR education, training, and quality of life is the goal of the CivMar WiN project,” Skinner added.

The first installation of the CivMar WiN was completed aboard the fleet replenishmentoilerUSNSHarveyMilk(T-AO206), Feb. 21. The second installation took place aboardthefleetreplenishmentoilerUSNS Joshua Humphreys (T-AO 188) and was completed,April16 Withbothshipshaving reported successful installation and verification, the rest of MSC’s GO/GO fleet will now begin to receive the Wi-Fi capability

“Once successfully installed [across MSC’s GO/GO fleet], all CIVMARs, licensed and unlicensed, will be provided accounts that allow them access to the CivMar WiN from their personal devices,” Skinner stated “The intention of the CivMar WiN is to provide internet access for CIVMARs’ personal devices, while on ship and underway in support of access to human resources training education and virtual pool capabilities such as Defense Travel System (DTS) and myPay, in addition to personal email, banking, insurance, e-commerce and more.”

CivMar WiN will have some built in cybersecuritymeasures,butCIVMARswill be responsible for the protection of their personal devices e.g. installation of antivirussoftware.Additionally networkactivity will be monitored for operational security, cybersecurity, and legal purposes

“Alllegalinternetactivitywillbeallowed on the CivMar WiN,” Skinner added. “There will be activity tracking in place to provide a by-device and by-user record of activity on the network to deter illegal activitybeingconductedbyanindividual.”

“Additionally CivMar WiN will be subject to the same operational security (OPSEC) and emission control (EMCON) policiesastheoperationalnetworkasitcan and will be shut down during periods of increased levels of OPSEC and EMCON,” Skinner said.

Feedback from MSC’s CIVMARs has indicated that at-sea Wi-Fi access will improve crew morale and retention.

“Thecrew[ofUSNSJoshuaHumphreys] isecstaticwiththethoughtofWi-Fiaboard ship,”Capt.P.ToddChristian,USNSJoshua Humphry’s Ship’s Master “Parts’ research in support of repairs will now be much easier, computer-based training requirements will also be much easier to accomplish. This in addition to social media access opportunities and staying in touch with family and friends.”

USNS Joshua Humphreys is crewed by

BySeamanEvanAntonisse

USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN 69)

PORTSMOUTH, Va.— On March 20, 2025, Legalman 1st Class David Schneider, assignedtotheNimitz-classaircraftcarrier USSDwightD.Eisenhower(CVN69)(IKE), received the United States Navy’s Judge Advocate General’s (JAG) 2024 Service Member of the Year award for exemplary performance among his peers in the Navy Legalcommunity ExcellenceisnotnewtoSchneider Every stepofthewayinhisNavalcareer,Schneider puthisallintoeverythinghe’sdone Schneider carries himself with a humble conﬁdencethatassureseveryonearoundhim.

“That’s something that drives me,” said Schneider “If people are going to draw energy from me I have to make sure I keep my energy high and make sure I stay even keeledandhumble.” Schneider admits that it is not always simpletostayevenkeeled,notingthatthere isaneedtoﬁlteroutnegativeenergyinorder tostaypositive Truetohisnature,Schneider

Norfolk,Va (April 16 2025) -Joseph Redwood Cargo Mate USNSJoshua Humphreys (T-AO 188) video chatswith familyfrom his phone thanks to the Starshield system installed aboard the ship,which provides 5G connectivity,April 16 2025.(U.S.NAVYPHOTOBYRYANCARTER)

87 CIVMARs who will use the new shipboard Wi-Fi system.

Supply Utilityman Brooklyn Hunter, a CIVMARaboardUSNSJoshuaHumphreys added, “I now have the ability to ﬁnish my dailyworkaboardshipandcompleteonline college courses during my off time.”

Christian offered some advice for MSC ships who will receive the new shipboard

gave credit to the entire Legal Department team for providing positive energy so they couldallthriveondeployment.

“Wefedoffeachother,everybodybrought something to the table, and we were able to maintain positivity which kept morale up,” said Schneider “We leaned on each other andcametogetherasateamtogetitdone.” TheeffectthatSchneiderhasonhisteam has not gone unnoticed, he is held in the utmost regard by leadership in the Legal Department.

“LN1 Schneider is an absolute rock star who is 100 percent dedicated to the IKE, to theSailorsandtotheNavy,”saidChiefLegalman Paul Dunne, legal department leading chiefpettyofficer “Theshiphasbeenlucky to have had such a great LN1 for the last threeyears.”

This is not Schneider’s ﬁrst time being considered for Legalman of the Year He ﬁnished as the runner-up in the last cycle and stated that he did not feel like he was particularlyclosetowinningtheaward.

“I received feedback that I didn’t show enough personality, and I felt the topic

Wi-Fi in the future.

“Please remember the CivMar WiN systemwillbeverygoodforCIVMARs,but OPSEC must be maintained, so be responsible,” Christian stated. “Also leave your cell phone in your stateroom during working hours Having Wi-Fi in our stateroom means there is no longer a need to search for a signal throughout the ship.”

didn’t play to my strengths,” said Schneider “But this year was more of a warﬁghting theme and I was able to speak to that a lotmorebecauseofwhatweweredoingout ondeployment.”

He is not driven by success or recognition;Schneiderisdrivenbyastrongsenseof compassionandempathyforhisfellowsailors Schneidercares,andhewantstohelphis shipmatessucceedinanywayhecan.

“Legal is kind of the focal point to a lot of issues we get a lot of questions and I hate not knowing the answer,” said Schneider “I want to help people and I can’t do that if Idon’tknowtheanswertotheirproblem.” Day to day, Schneider is very involved around the ship In addition to his duties as the Leading Petty Officer of the Legal Department, Schneider serves as his duty section’sEnlistedSectionLeaderandinhis section’sDamageControlTrainingTeam.

“I try to be knowledgeable on different aspects,butatthesametimeyouhavetostay humble,”saidSchneider “Ifyoudon’tknow, you have to be able to say you don’t know, absorb whatever humility comes from that

MSCplanstoinstalltheCivMarWiNon 56 GO/GO MSC ships over the course of 24 months with completion anticipated in theﬁrstquarterofﬁscalyear2027,pending

lesson,andmoveforward.”

This approach has helped Schneider as a leader Schneider recognizes the need to go above and beyond, not only for his own personal understanding, but so he can help as many of his shipmates as possible along theway.

“I have only been on IKE for six weeks, butIknewrightaftermeetinghimthatheis someonespecial,”Dunnesaid.“HepassionatelytrainshisLegalmentoensuretheyare setupforsuccess.”

Senior Chief Legalman Katie Holden, departmentalleadingchiefpettyofficer,says SchneideristhemostimpressiveSailorshe haseverknown.

Despite a major achievement, Schneider isnotrestingonhislaurels Withsomuchto celebrate,Schneiderremainsfocusedonhis workandhisshipmates.

“Wemakeourownworld,”saidSchneider “I try to live in the world of; if people need help,I’mgoingtohelpasmanyasIcan.

Australian Department of Defence air vice-marshal visits NUWC Division

ByPublicAffairsOffice

Naval Undersea Warfare Center Division Newport

NEWPORT, R.I.

The U.S. and Australia have a long-standing military relationship that only continues to grow through collaboration. In helping to bolster that relationship, NUWC Division Newport on April 7 welcomed Air Vice-Marshal Gerry vanLeeuwen,headofGuidedWeaponsand ExplosiveOrdnanceSystemsfortheDepartment of Defence of Australia, for a series of discussions and a tour of the command

The visit was part of an eight-day stretch for van Leeuwen during which he toured several industry and government defense facilities withDivisionNewportdesignated as one of the key stops

The two navies leverage their own capabilities, experiences and operational environments to achieve maximum synergy in theheavyweighttorpedo(HWT)enterprise.

The partnership demonstrates a shared commitment to maintaining free and open global maritime commons

“There are important mutual beneﬁts in the partnership between Australia and the UnitedStatesthroughactiveparticipationin joint and cooperative programs such as the Mark 54 MOD 2 and Mark 48 HWT cooperativeprograms,”vanLeeuwensaid.“Division Newport’s capabilities are signiﬁcant contributorsthatdrivedevelopmentofthese programs to success.”

“Aswe’veseenfordecades,workinghand in hand strengthens the capabilities readinessandresolveofbothsides,”NUWCDivision Newport Technical Director Marie Bussiere said. “With its level of technical expertise, Division Newport is committed to further strengthening this bilateral partnership.”

Bussierecertainlyunderstandstheimportance of international relationships especially with Australia Earlier in her career she served as Division Newport’s lead systemsengineerforaForeignMilitarySales casefortheRoyalAustralianNavy’sCollinsclass submarine, which progressed to an ArmamentsCooperationProject(ACP),for the AN/BYG-1 submarine combat system.

More recently, and just prior to becoming technical director in 2023 Bussiere was the U.S. lead for lethality in support of Commander Submarine Force (COMSUBFOR) and the AUKUS Pillar 2 Undersea

Working Group AUKUS is the trilateral security pact between Australia, United Kingdom and United States Accompanying van Leeuwen on the tour were Marilyn Tomlinson, chief of staff, Guided Weapons and Explosive Ordnance Systems;HayleyTrevitt,counsellor Guided Weapons and Explosive Ordnance; and Callum Beutel, liaison officer to Guided Weapons and Explosive Ordnance In 2023, the Royal Australian Navy and U.S. Navy celebrated the 20th anniversary of the Heavyweight Torpedo ACP memorandum of understanding This joint effort resultedinsigniﬁcantoperationalcapability and lethality improvements to the Mark 48 Advanced Capability heavyweight torpedo through three major hardware and software upgrades developed and tested by the Naval Undersea Warfare Centers and the AustralianDefenceScienceandTechnology Group(DSTG) [LINK:https://www.navsea. navy.mil/Media/News/Article-View/ Article/3371636/us-and-australian-navies-celebrate-20th-anniversary-of-heavyweight-torpedo-arma/]

“The U.S. and Australia have been doing co-development on our heavyweight systems for 20 years now, so it’s a very strongrelationship,”saidJohnFastino,head of the Weapons Systems Division in Division Newport’s Undersea Warfare (USW) Weapons, Vehicles, and Defensive Systems Department. “I’d say it’s the strongest relationshipwehavewithanothercountry And it’simportantbecauseweneedtodoco-development,right?Weneedtoleverageallthe talent available through this ACP.

Now, a similar developmental effort is being forged with the Mark 54 lightweight torpedo, Fastino said, which was the basis ofvanLeeuwen’svisittoDivisionNewport.

“We wanted to show Air Vice-Marshal van Leeuwen the breadth and depth of the capability at Division Newport for weapon systems development for torpedoes, both heavyweightandlightweight, Fastinosaid.

“During the tour, we focused on the lightweight torpedo in the areas of hardware development and modeling and simulation software. We’re trying to get more of a partnershiponthesoftwarealgorithmdevelopment side which the Royal Australian Navy and DSTG have played an important role in the past. We’re trying to continue that.

After brieﬁngs with leadership, the tour

kicked off at the Weapons Analysis Facility (WAF) Laboratory, where van Leeuwen heard from Rick Murphy and Sharon Tyler, subject matter experts in modeling and simulation in the USW Weapons, Vehicles, and Defensive Systems Department. The WAF is used for critical tasking in torpedo softwaredevelopment,softwareintegration into torpedo weapon systems, and analysis ofbothin-waterandsimulatedweaponruns Thefacilityhasmorethan450users,encompassing mostly scientists and engineers Thereisacomplimentaryfacilitylocatedin Perth in Western Australia.

ThePropulsionTestFacilitywasthenext stop where Matt Cunha, Chris Burke and TrevorWhitney allfromtheUSWWeapons Vehicles, and Defensive Systems Department,discussedequipmentthatwillbeused totesttheadvancedlightweighttorpedothat isbeingco-developedandJacobMartinand JamesPianfetti,allfromtheUSWWeapons, Vehicles, and Defensive Systems Department,explainedtestequipment.Finally,Dr Victor Evora and Tony Paolero, both from theSensorsandSonarSystemsDepartment, took van Leeuwen through the Acoustic Pressure Tank Facility.

“The facilities we have here are all critical to the development and testing of this new lightweight torpedo, and each one of the folks who spoke have an area of expertise needed to ensure our undersea warfare superiority,” Fastino said The missions and geographic locations of Division Newport and the UWDC have contributedtoacloseworkingrelationship Leadershipofbothorganizationsmeetperiodically for technical exchanges and deep dives into critical gap areas and capability enhancements The warfare center’s technical departments and UWDC’s working groups also interact regularly

NUWC Newport is the oldest warfare center in the country, tracing its heritage to the Naval Torpedo Station established on Goat Island in Newport Harbor in 1869 Commanded by Capt. Chad Hennings, NUWC Newport maintains major detachments in West Palm Beach, Florida, and AndrosIslandintheBahamas,aswellastest facilitiesatSenecaLakeandFisher’sIsland, New York Leesburg,

and Dodge Pond, Connecticut.

joined the Navy in 2003, from his hometown Hillsboro, IL. He is currently stationed at NTAG Great Lakes, where he works as an Officer Recruiter. While at NTAG Great Lakes, HMCS has

become a standout Sailor winning Officer Recruiter of the Month several times

“I wouldn’t be here or achieve this milestonewithoutthesupportofmyfamily,Shipmates and fellow Chiefs,” Holtschulte said. “It gives me the opportunity to continue to serve this great country.” CMCHoncoveredHoltschulteduringthe pinning ceremony. He says the highlight of his job is recognizing Sailors promotions.

“It gives me great honor and pride to see our Sailors promoted. Even more so when a Sailor reaches the ranks of Chief, Senior Chief and Master Chief! No greater honor,” Hon said. “Senior Holtschulte is a leader of

the Chiefs His passion and care for people isunlikeanyI’veexperienced.Hehasallthe tools to be a great CMC one day.

HMCSispreparingtotransfertohisnext duty station: Navy Medicine Readiness and Training Command Great Lakes “As Senior Chief, I’m looking forward to continuing to lead and guide Sailors,” Holtschulte said “There is a quote I like that says a Senior Chief’s star is upside down because it’s

Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Navy for Energy tours NAVFAC Washington’s Facilities Energy Operations Cell

ByNatashaWaldronAnthony Naval Facilities Engineering Systems Command Washington

Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Navy for Energy (DASN-E) Christine Ploschke visited the Naval Facilities Engineering Systems Command (NAVFAC) Washington’s Facilities Energy Operations Cell (FEOC) to review energy initiatives and operations,March19,2025

The FEOC, located within the Shore Operations Center, Washington Navy Yard, supportsfacilitiesacrossNAVFACWashington by identifying Heating, Ventilation, and AirConditioningserviceissuesandimprovingenergyoptimization.

Duringthevisit,Ploschketouredthefacility, viewed workstations and Direct Digital Controlgraphicscreensandwasbriefedon currentprojects

“I’m really excited to see the data-driven approach that the Department of the Navy is leveraging to help improve not just our energy usage, but also the optimization of theconditionandmanagementofourfacilities,” said Ploschke. “Understanding our consumption is certainly the step one in beingabletomanageiteffectively,toensure thatwecanleverageeveryresourcetomaximizeourabilitytosupportthewarﬁghter.”

Russell Hall, supervisor of Enterprise Industrial Control System for NAVFAC Washington, who hosted the demonstration,notedthat“thesupportfromtheAssistantSecretaryoftheNavywasgainedforthe futureendeavorsoftheNavalDistrictWashingtonNAVFACFEOC.

Ploschkewasbriefedonacurrentproject to connect 26 additional buildings within NAVFACWashingtonandplanstoupgrade existingInformationTechnologyinfrastructuretoanew‘zerotrust’networkmandated

by the Department of Defense. NAVFAC Washington is working toward integrating building

At Southern Border, Defense Secretary visits newly created National Defense Area

ByC.ToddLopez DOD News

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth visited the newly created New Mexico National Defense Area today to meet with service members assigned to Joint Task Force SouthernBorder

“This is Department of Defense property,” Hegseth said “Any illegal [attempt] to enter that zone is entering a military base a federally protected area. You will be detained. You will be interdicted by U.S. troopsandborderpatrolworkingtogether.”

Hegseth held a sign in English and Spanish indicating the property’s protected status Thesignsstatethattheareaisunder U.S.militaryjurisdictionandwarnthattrespasserswillbedetained.

“You’ve got signs like this one all across the border wall facing into Mexico clear English,clearSpanish, hesaid MillionsofpeoplecrossedtheU.S.-Mexicoborderoverthepastfouryears,Hegseth said. Since January, the department has steppedupeffortstocurbillegalcrossings

Initial deployments earlier this year included 1,600 active-duty Marines and soldiersjoiningthe2,500reservistswhohad alreadybeenmobilized.

In early March, the department sent a Stryker brigade combat team and a general supportaviationbattaliontothesouthwesternbordertoacceleratePresidentDonaldJ. Trump’sdirectivetobolstermilitarysupport in securing the border

Thoseunitswereequippedwithwheeled vehicles and aviation assets to support mobility and surveillance In late March, servicemembersassignedtoJTF-SBwere authorized to conduct patrols a shift fromthepreviouslystaticroleofdetection and monitoring Last week, the Defense Department assumed jurisdiction from theDepartmentoftheInteriorover109,651 acresoffederallandalongtheU.S.-Mexico border The area was officially designated the “NewMexicoNationalDefenseArea,”April 18, 2025, following a general order signed by the Secretary of the Army to make that NDA part of the existing Fort Huachuca, an Army installation in nearby Arizona. According to the DOI, the agreement for the land transfer is three years.

The transfer of jurisdiction and the creation of the NMNDA was directed by the president as a way to strengthen the authority of service members already participating in border control efforts as part of JTF-SB.

Troops have been working alongside CustomsandBorderProtectionsinceJanuary to seal the southern border However, the kind of work they can do there has been limited by federal law While service memberscouldassistinidentifyingborder crossers for instance only CBP personnel could apprehend them.

But now, federal troops participating in JTF-SB, and who are operating on the NMNDA,cantemporarilydetaintrespassers until an appropriate law enforcement entity can assume custody Service members can now also conduct cursory searches of trespassers to ensure thesafetyofU.S.servicemembersandDOD property conductcrowdcontrolmeasures asnecessary,andprovideemergencymedical support to trespassers to prevent the loss of life, limb or eyesight.

“Through these enhanced authorities,

U.S.SecretaryofDefense Pete Hegseth addresses service members at Fort

the efforts theyare undertaking to establish the NewMexico

(USNORTHCOM) service members have been delegated the authorityand directed

U.S.NorthernCommandwillensurethose

who illegally trespass in the New Mexico

National Defense Area are handed over to Customs and Border Protection or our other law enforcement partners,” said Air Force Gen. Gregory Guillot, Northcom commander “Joint Task Force Southern Border will conduct enhanced detection and monitoring, which will include vehicle and foot patrols, rotary wing and ﬁxed surveillance site operations.”

Getting control of the border was at the top of the president’s to-do list on the day hetookoffice Hoursafterhisinauguration, he signed a document declaring a national emergencyatthesouthernborderandsaid America’s sovereignty was under attack.

“Our southern border is overrun by cartels, criminal gangs, known terrorists, human traffickers, smugglers, unvetted military-age males from foreign adversaries and illicit narcotics that harm Americans,” the president wrote.

Inthesamedocument,thepresidentsaid theDepartmentofHomelandSecurityand the U.S. armed forces must seal the border

Within days of that order, U.S. troops were already heading down south to carry out the president’s directives Today, Northcom directed JTF-SB to carry out that mission alongside CBP.

“For too long our southern border was poorlyequippedandunderstaffed,andour warﬁghters were restricted from doing their jobs, Hegseth said today via social media.“Wewillsecureoursouthernborder and have 100% operational control.”

Naval Special Warfare honors fallen Operator

Gage Ingram with posthumous

ByPettyOfficer1stClass

IMPERIALBEACH,Calif Onaserene springday,asagentlebreezedancedacross the terrace and the sun broke through the clouds, a collective silence enveloped the SilverStrandTrainingComplexinImperial Beach, Calif Naval Special Warfare (NSW) Gold Star families, distinguished guests, NSW members, their families, and friends gathered to honor the unparalleled bravery and selﬂessness of Naval Special Warfare Operator1stClassNathanGageIngram

Naval Special Warfare Honors Fallen Operator Gage Ingram With Posthumous Medal On a serene spring day, as a gentle breeze danced across the terrace and the sun broke through the clouds, a collective silence enveloped the Silver Strand TrainingComplexinImperialBeach,Calif Naval Special Warfare (NSW) Gold Star families distinguished guests, NSW members, their families, and friends gathered to honor the unparalleled bravery and selflessness of Naval Special Warfare Operator 1st Class NathanGageIngram.

Ingram was posthumously awarded the Navy and Marine Corps Medal for heroism during a Naval Special Warfare operational mission on January 11 2024 in the U.S.CentralCommandareaofoperations Inthedarkofnight,Ingramandhisteammateswerepartofamissionthatinterdicted a vessel with an illegal shipment of Iranian-suppliedballistic-missileandcruise-missile components, preventing them from reaching Yemen. During the operation, Special Warfare Operator Chief Petty Officer Christopher J. Chambers lost his grip and fell into the water while attempting to boardadhowinheavyseas Withouthesitation, Ingram jumped into the sea to try and savehisteammate

“The Navy and Marine Corps Medal is reserved for those who undertake extraordinaryactsofselﬂessness,oftenatgreatperil tothemselves,evenmoresothanthosethey seek to save,” said a Naval Special Warfare Operator during the award ceremony

“Today, Gage will join the ranks of distinguished recipients of this esteemed medal, andwewilletchhisnameintothehallowed hallsofNavalSpecialWarfare,ourNavy,and ourcountryforalltime.”

TheNavyandMarineCorpsMedalisthe highestnon-combatdecorationawardedfor

medal

heroism by the United States Department oftheNavytomembersoftheUnitedStates NavyandUnitedStatesMarineCorps

“OnethingthatstoodoutwasGage’sclear understanding of the fallen heroes who came before him and the profound legacies they left within the teams of Naval Special Warfare. In Gage’s words, ‘We have to lose oneofustolearnanddobetter It’stheonly wayweimprove, saidMrs JewelIngram, SpecialWarfareOperator1stClassIngram’s wife as she accepted the award during the ceremony.

The loss of Chambers and Ingram trig-

gered training and readiness reviews NSW-wide Safety training, gear checks, and procedural reviews and implementation have been conducted and executed at every level to ensure the safety and readiness of each operator and combat support personnel, and honoring the memories of ourlostteammates Ingram enlisted in the Navy on September25,2019,andgraduatedfrombootcamp atRecruitTrainingCommandGreatLakes, Illinois, in November 2019 He graduated from Basic Underwater Demolition/SEAL Training Class 346 in December 2021. His

awards and decorations include the Navy and Marine Corps Medal, Defense Meritorious Service Medal, Good Conduct Medal, the National Defense Service Medal, the Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal,theGlobalWaronTerrorismService Medal,andotherpersonalandunitawards NSW provides maritime special operationsforcecapabilitiestoenableJointForce survivability inside denied and contested areas, and remains committed to ensuring the highest levels of safety and training for allofitsmembers

Medal of Honor Spotlight: Navy Capt. Michael Estocin

ByKatieLange DOD News

Navy Capt. Michael John Estocin flew manyperilousmissionsintheearlydaysof the Vietnam War, and a close call in April 1967 didn’t dissuade him from returning to the skies for combat. While he never came home from his last mission, he posthumouslyreceivedtheMedalofHonorfor his bravery and devotion EstocinwasbornApril27,1931,inTurtle Creek, Pennsylvania, to Michael and Mary Estocin He grew up with four sisters and two brothers Afterhighschool,EstocinattendedSlipperyRockStateTeachersCollege,nowSlippery Rock University, graduating in 1954 He then joined the Naval Aviation Cadet program, which started to increase the number of available military pilots following World War II, and earned his wings in 1955 Estocin’s first assignment was with Attack Squadron 56 at Naval Air Station Miramar, California, which included a deploymentontheaircraftcarrierUSSBon HommeRichard.Hethenservedwithtwo training squadrons before a stint aboard the carrier USS Ranger that ended in June 1965 Later that year, Estocin was assigned to Attack Squadron 192, known as the “GoldenDragons.”Withthem hedeployed to Vietnam on the Bon Homme Richard, thenagainontheUSSTiconderogain1967 after he’d attained the rank of lieutenant commander On April 20, 1967, Estocin led two other aircraft in a coordinated strike against two thermal power plants in Haiphong, North Vietnam. During the mission, he notified leaders of the positions of surface-to-air missiles known as SAMs protecting the plants Estocin then destroyed three of them. At one point, after his A-4 Skyhawk was hitbyanexplodingmissile,Estocinignored intense antiaircraft fire, flew back into the target area and used anti-radar homing missilestofinishoffhistargets Afterward, hehadlessthanfiveminutesoffuelremaining Thankfully a refueling tanker was nearbyandwasabletobeginin-flightrefueling, which kept him in the air for more than 100 miles When Estocin came within three miles of the Ticonderoga, he detached from the tankerand,knowinghedidn’thaveenough fuelforasecondapproach,expertlycarried out a fiery landing on the carrier Estocin suffered burns during the landing but a week later he convinced his superiorshewasOKtoflydespitehisinjuries On April 26, 1967, he went on another mission to Haiphong to strike more vital fuel facilities Estocin and another pilot were sent ahead of a bombing squadron to neutralize enemy SAM sites

The mission at the power plant went off without incident, but on the way back to safety Estocin spotted an active SAM site that launched a missile that exploded near him, seriously damaging his aircraft The burningplanewentintoabarrelrollbefore Estocin was able to recover. According to a Veterans Affairs Department proﬁle of Estocin, the second pilot,

Navy Cmdr John Nichols followed Estocin’s aircraft and radioed for help Estocin didn’t respond to radio calls, and Nichols noted he could see Estocin motionless in the cockpit with his head bent slightly forward. Soon after, Estocin’s aircraft crashed, with no evidence that he’d parachuted to safety before hitting the ground Estocinwasinitiallypresumeddead,but intelligence later suggested he may have survivedandwastakenprisoner However, whenallU.S.prisonersofwarwerereleased from Vietnamese custody in 1973, Estocin was not one of them. According to the VA, a 1993 committee investigating missing Vietnam POWs

determined that Estocin likely died when hisaircraftcrashed.NorthVietnameseofficialsalsoinsistedtheyhadnorecordofhim ever being held. His remains have not been recovered. Estocin’scourageanddevotionwerenot forgotten OnFeb.27,1978,hiswidow,Quay Marie Estocin, and their three daughters received the Medal of Honor on his behalf during a ceremony at the Pentagon. Estocin was also posthumously promoted to captain. In 1981, the guided-missile frigate USS Estocin was commissioned and served the Navy for more than two decades In 2002, a highway interchange in western

sylvania, near where Estocin grew up was named in his honor

TheCaptainMichaelJ.EstocinAwardis presentedannuallytothebeststrike-ﬁghter squadron in recognition of outstanding achievements in naval aviation Estocin’s alma mater, Slippery Rock University, offers a memorial scholarship in his name to incoming freshmen. A memorial marker honors Estocin at Fort Rosecrans National Cemetery in San Diego

Pentagon opens doors to the new generation for ‘Bring

Your Child to Work Day’

ByC.ToddLopez DOD News

The defense secretary welcomed more than8,300childrenofPentagonemployees yesterdayduring“BringYourChildtoWork Day.” The event was designed to help children experience the workforce and showcase different roles within the Defense Department.

Duringamockpressbrieﬁngintheafternoon where children had the chance to become reporters for the day, Assistant to the Secretary of Defense for Public Affairs Sean Parnell talked with more than 60 of those children about what the Pentagon is and what their parents do there for the nation.

“Their mission is to protect our country [and] ensure global security which involves a lot of crazy and complicated things but it’s all about making your life better and ensuring that you live in a country that’s free,” Parnell said. “You see them go to work every single day, but today, you get a unique opportunity to see what goes on behind the scenes The work they do requiresincrediblededicationandskill.It’s

somethingtoreallybeproudof Youshould allbevery,veryproudofyourparents.”

BothParnellandPentagonPressSecretary KingsleyWilsonhostedmockbrieﬁngsand answeredquestionsfromchildrenaboutthe historyofthePentagonbuilding,thedepartment’s mission and how Pentagon leaders workwithcapablealliesandpartners

Wilson reminded the children of the importanceoftheirparent’swork.

“You might not think about it often, but your parents are involved in something really special here at the DOD,” she said. “Theyworksuperhardeverysingleday,long hours,tokeeppeoplesafeandtoprotectour country And they’re part of a global team doingsomeawesome,amazingthings.”

Pentagon tour guides provided tours to over1,000gueststhroughouttheday.Wilson encouraged the little visitors to explore the buildingwiththeirparents

“Walk throughout the hallway, see all of the awesome stuff we have to offer, learn something new, and use this opportunity ﬁrsthandtoseewhatyourparentsdowhen theyleavehomeandcometotheofficeevery day,”shesaid.

InthePentagoncourtyard,allﬁveservices within DOD along with the Coast Guard

provided opportunities for children to learn more about the department. There were displays of robots used in explosive ordnance disposal, night vision equipment, drones,andvariousotherdisplaysinvolving STEMeducation.

John Freeman and Isaac Peugh, both with Program Executive Office Soldier out of Fort Belvoir Virginia manned a booth in thePentagoncourtyardwheretheydemonstrated an integrated visual augmentation systembeingdevelopedfortheArmy.

“What we’re working with right here is a [helmet]systemthathasnumerousarraysof sensors on a heads-up display that enables situationalawarenessandcommunications,” Freemansaid.“You’reabletoseewhereyour teammatesarewithinthebattleﬁeld.You’re able to communicate and create mission packagesandplanroutes.”

Peugh said more than 400 kids came, though many seemed more interested in trying on the high-tech equipment than askingaboutit.

“We didn’t get too many questions, just there’salotofoohsandaahsfromthekids,” hesaid.

The PEO Soldier booth had a constant ﬂowofkids consideringmostoftheequip-

mentwaswearable

“Ithinkit’ssafetosaythatourstationwas oneofthemorepopularones,”hesaid

“The kidsweregettingtoputonaugmentedreality,nightvisionandthermalsystems.” Newtechnology,likewhatwasondisplay from the Army, might be more commonplacefortheyoungpeoplewhomarveledat itinthePentagonthanforsomeoftheolder soldiersintheArmyrightnow,Peughsaid.

“The buttons that we have here, there’s onlyafewbuttons,tomakesurethatsoldiers aren’t overwhelmed with information, buttons or programs,” he said. “It’s all very simple,veryintuitive.Andbythetimethese kids are coming in the Army and joining the close-combat force and wearing these things there will be no issues with the user interface.”

“Bring Your Child to Work Day” is an annualeventdesignedtohelpchildrenexperiencetheworkforceandshowcasedifferent roles within the Defense Department. This year’seventthemewas“ForaNewGeneration,”andthegoalwastoinspirechildrento explore future career paths, provide exposuretomilitaryandcivilianroles andteach themaboutthenation’sdefensecommunity

On iberty

Visitors enjoybiking andwalking a stretch ofthe ColonialParkway.(COURTESYPHOTO)

You’re invited to Pedal the Parkway Event at Colonial National Historical Park on Saturday, May 3

PressRelease

YORKTOWN, Va Colonial National

Historical Park, in partnership with BikeWalkWilliamsburgandWilliamsburgArea Bicyclists, invites the public to recreate on a seven-mile stretch of the Colonial Parkway on Saturday, May 3. This section of the historic roadway will be open for running walkingandbikingfrom7a.m.until12p.m.

“We are excited to once again offer this unique opportunity for visitors of all ages to enjoy the parkway by pedal or by foot in a safe and fun way,” said Superintendent JerriMarr “Wearealsogratefulforthework BikeWalk Williamsburg and Williamsburg Area Bicyclists have done to make this day happen.” Park staff will close the Parkway to all

vehicleaccessbetweenHwy199/Kingsport and Rt 359 at Jamestown starting at 6 a.m., reopeningby1p.m.Vehicleswillbeallowed to access Jamestown Island via Jamestown Roadduringthistime ParkingwillbeavailableattheJamestown Visitor Center on Jamestown Island and at the Jamestown Settlement, located at 2110 Jamestown Road. To ride on the Colonial Parkway all persons age 16 and up must purchase a visitor entrance pass This pass providesaccesstoallresourcesmanagedby the park and is valid for seven consecutive days Participants can purchase their pass on-site or on www.recreation.gov. America theBeautifulpassesandParkAnnualpasses will be honored and available for purchase onsite Parkstaffencouragesvisitorsandcommu-

Norfolk hosts Virginia Championship Wrestling on Saturday, May 3

BySamSaunders

Virginia Championship Wrestling will return to the Norfolk Masonic Temple on Saturday, May 3 in Norfolk, VA The event will feature a Virginia Heavyweight Championship defense and a match to determine the final entrantintheVCWLibertyLotteryon Saturday,July19 Liberty Lottery is VCW’s ﬂagship event with a 20-person elimination matchofthesamename Twowrestlers begin with competitors entering every 30 seconds Wrestlers are eliminated when they go over the top rope with both feet touching the ﬂoor The last personstandingearnsachampionship match of their choosing for up to one year On May 3, “Greek God” Papadon and Techno will face one another with the winner earning the No 20 entrant positionintheLibertyLottery

Techno debuted for VCW in March with a standout performance in a triple threat match. Despite coming up short, officials were impressed by the newcomer and awarded him this opportunity In his path, however, is a former Virginia Heavyweight Championwithachiponhisshoulder Papadon captured the aforementioned title at the Liberty Lottery event last July, but since losing it in October he has had a difficult time retaining momentum.Papadonrecentlytradedwinswith KenDixon,losingtheirMarchencounter A win on May 3 would give either of these wrestlers a huge advantage in the Liberty Lottery and change their trajectoryfortherestoftheyear

Another debut occurred in March when the team of Nice & Smooth pinnedtheVCWTagTeamChampions Delinquents during an eight-man tag team match. “Too Nice” Trace Parker

and “Smooth” Tom Mitchell quickly made an impression on the audience withtheircharismaandteamwork,and with a victory over the reigning champions,theyhaveearnedatitlematchfor May 3. Mikey Banker and Josh Fuller have nefariously retained the VCW Tag Team Championship against all challengers, but this will be their ﬁrst two-on-two tag team match with Nice &Smooth.

DelinquentswontheirﬁrstVCWTag Team Championship by defeating The Golden Pinky Society in July of 2024

Since then, Banker and Fuller have managedtodefeatBenjaminBanksand Victor Griff whenever the titles are on the line Nearly one year after losing thechampionship,BanksandGriffwill be guests on the Loulies Lounge with Tim Loulies The VCW audience will have the opportunity to hear what the GoldenPinkieshaveontheirmind,but with Loulies’ tendency of insulting his guests physicalitymaybeimminent.

For months “The Director Jerry StephanitsishastargetedBrandonScott withaseriesofchallengingopponents

“The Director’s Blockbuster Bounty” wascreatedbyStephanitsiswithalarge sum of money being paid to whoever could defeat Scott. Chulo Montana and Myles Hawkins have answered the challenge previously but were defeatedbyScott.Now,formerVirginia Heavyweight Champion Joe Keys has accepted Stephanitsis’ offer Keys and Scott are both decorated wrestlers in VCW,andtheylastmetinatriplethreat match also featuring Papadon. After months of being the focus of Stephanitsis’ attacks, a weakened Brandon Scottwillbeforcedtofacehistoughest challengeyet.

nitymemberstoalwaysrecreateresponsibly. Fortrip-planningtoolsandtodiscoverother recreationalactivities,pleasevisit:www.nps gov/planyourvisit/recreate-responsibly.com TheColonialParkwayisa23-milescenic roadway stretching from the York River at Yorktown to the James River at Jamestown ItconnectsVirginia’shistorictriangle: Jamestown Williamsburg, and Yorktown. It is used by millions of travelers annually to access and enjoy the area’s natural and culturalbeauty AboutColonialNationalHistoricalPark: Colonial National Historical Park was established in 1930 to preserve important 17thand18thcenturysitesthattellthestory of English colonization and the struggle for American independence Jamestown’s legacyincludesrepresentativegovernment,

but also slavery a brutal institution that spread throughout the colonies At Yorktown, Virginia, colonists fought in the last majorbattleoftheAmericanRevolutionary War. The 23-mile Colonial Parkway links thesitesandisrecognizedasan“All-Americanroad”.Learnmorewww.nps.gov/colo. About the National Park Service More than20,000NationalParkServiceemployees care for America’s 430+ national parks and work with communities across the nation to help preserve local history and createclose-to-homerecreationalopportunities Learn more at www.nps.gov, and on Facebook,Instagram,X(formerlyTwitter) and YouTube

Community

SUBMIT YOUR EVENTS, NEWSAND PHOTOS The Flagship welcomes submissions from ourreaders online. Pleasesubmiteventshere: www militarynews.com/users/admin/calendar/event/ Pleasesubmitnewsandphotoshere: www militarynews.com/norfolk-navy-ﬂagship/submit_news/

Virginia Peninsula Chamberholds 2025 Military /Business Career Fair on TuesdayMay 20

PressRelease

NEWPORTNEWS, Va.— TheVirginia Peninsula Chamber willpresentthe 2025 Military/ Business Career Fair on Tuesday, May20th, 2025,from9a.m until 12p.m. (noon) at theNewport News MarriottatCity Center (740Town CenterDrive,NewportNews,VA23606).

The Virginia Peninsula Chamber hosts this event annually with an average of 80 companies from around the mid-Atlantic participating.ITAInternationalisthisyear’s PresentingSponsor.

Thisyear’seventwillbeopentothepublic and will be focused on connecting employers,offeringrealjobs,withpotentialemployees.The CareerFair, in thepast, has had special time dedicated tojob seekers with militaryconnections,includingtransitioning service members andtheir families,retired militarymembers,reservistsandDODcivilians.These groups represent asigniﬁcant source of potentialemployees with unique skillsandvaluabletraining,readytostepinto newcareers.Ourfocusonourmilitaryveteranshasnotchanged,butthisyeartheentire timewillbeopentoallseriousjobseekersin an effort to assistthem insecuring productive,satisfyingandwell-payingjobs

ThiseventisFREEtopotentialemployees andjobseekers,whoareexpectedtoattend in business attire with properlyprepared resumes.Walk-ins arewelcome; however, we suggestjob seekersregisteronlineat

https://bit.ly/2025-VPC-CareerFair-JOBSEEKERStosavetimeduringcheck-in. Exhibits andsponsorshipsare available forpurchaseathttps://bit.ly/2025-VPC-CareerFair EXHIBITORS. If youare not lookingtohire, butwould liketosupport those whohaveservedorcontinuetoserve,you cansponsorthe2025CareerFair Formoreinformationaboutattendingthe event, sponsoring,orsecuring abooth for your company, please contact Allie Carson atallie@vpcc.orgor(757)325-8157.

About TheVirginia Peninsula Chamber: The Virginia Peninsula Chamber (VPC) servesthecitiesofNewportNews,Hampton and Poquoson; and James City County and York County.VPC is abusiness association, withover1,000membersandassociates TheVPCtakesaleadershipandadvocacy position on pro-Peninsulaand pro-business public policy positions and issues impacting the Virginia Peninsula business community.TheVPChostsaseriesofeducational,and leadership programs,including theannual State of theCitySeries; LEAD Peninsula; theIMPACTPeninsula LeadershipForum;SpotlightonthePeninsula;Pink BagLunches;andBusinessConnections,in additiontonumerousbusinessroundtables

The VPC is located at 11850Merchant’s Walk in Newport News.For moreinformation,call757-262-2000oremailinfo@vpcc. org. Connect to the VPConlineatwww vapeninsulachamber.com

Don’tmissthe2ndAnnualHeritageSTOLCompetition atthe MilitaryAviation Museum, May2-3

PressRelease

Heritage STOL is an exhilarating STOL (Short Takeoff and Landing) competition set to takeplaceatthe Military Aviation Museum in Virginia Beach, VA.This eventpromisesanexcitingshowcaseof skill and performance. Pilots from various backgroundswillconvergetodemonstrate theiraircraft’simpressivecapabilities in terms of short takeoffsand landings.Asa bonus,this competition will haveimportant historical context as National STOL’s partnershipwiththemuseumplacesthese modernaircraftinrelationoftheirmilitary predecessors.Your ticket includes admissiontothemuseumsoyouhavetheopportunity to view their entire collection and learn moreabout the origins of aviation in America.

National STOL competitions aim to be afamily friendly dayout at theairport for both airplane enthusiastsand those new to general aviation! Be suretocheck the weather and plan accordingly with hats sunblock,jackets,orraingearasnecessary We look forwardtosharing this unique STOLeventandsliceofhistorywithyou!

TheMilitary AviationMuseum is open dailyfrom9am-5pmandislocatedat1341 Princess Anne Road, Virginia Beach, VA 23457. AdmissionisFREEfor museum membersand WWII Veterans;Adults $17, Senior(65+),Militaryand Teachers $15; Youth (ages 5-13) $10; Youth 4& under are free.Parkingatthe museum is free and plentiful. Formoreinformation call (757) 721-7767orvisitwww.militaryaviationmuseum.org.

Event Schedule

Friday,May2 9:00am-5:00pm:MuseumOpen 9:00am-6:00pm:TransientAircraft andCampingArrivals(ifﬂyingin,we highlyrecommendplanningyourarrival OUTSIDEofthecompetitorpractice hourstoavoiddelays)

10:30am:VolunteerBriefing 11:00am:NEWCompetitorBriefing (mandatoryforallcompetitorswhoare NEWtotheNationalSTOLseriesorwho havenotcompetinginthepasttwoyears) 11:30am:PracticeBriefingforALL competitors

12:30-5:00pm:CompetitorPractice 6:00pm:DinnerandPrivateMuseum ToursforCompetitorsandVolunteers

Saturday,May3

9:00am-5:00pm:MuseumOpen 9:00am-6:00pm:TransientAircraft Arrivals(plantoarrivepriorto10:30am toavoiddelaysduringthecompetition!)

9:15am:VolunteerBrieﬁng

9:45am:CompetitorBrieﬁng

10:30am:CompetitionBegins

Note: Weanticipatethecompetitionwill lastuntilmid-afternoon.Ifyoudonot arriveearlytoviewthemuseum’scollection,weencourageyoutodosoafterthe competitioniscomplete!

6:00pm:ClosingDinnerandAwards CeremonyforCompetitorsandInvited Guests

Part II of internationally famous, World Heavyweight Champion pro wrestler Jim Londos

InterviewByYiorgo

life as told by author Steven Johnson

Recently, I had the opportunity to speak with acclaimedauthorStevenJohnsonabouthisnewest book “Jim Londos: The Golden Greek of Professional Wrestling (Studies in Strength and Political Culture)” Part I of our amazing interview can be read at this link: https://www.militarynews com/norfolk-navy-flagship/community/a-conversation-with-author-steven-johnson-about-hisnew-book-on-professional-wrestling-s-legendary/ article_682138d8-2aec-40b9-8d3c-91f50a03678b. html.

Andnow,hereisPartIIofourinterview

Yiorgo: As an immigrant myself who also came over by ship that part deﬁnitely fascinates me as equallyastheloveofwrestling.Canyoutalkalittle bitabouthimcomingoverwithhiscousin,hisearly days in America and eventually the transition into prowrestling?

Steven Johnson: Londos came to America throughEllisIslandwith20bucksinhispocketand reallyhehadnoparticularplaninplace FromNew York, he started riding the rails across the countryandlandedinChicagowithtwofriendsthathe hadknowninGreece.Basically hecrashedattheir apartment So he would have been 16 at this time And that’s when he got into wrestling Because at a refugee resettlement area there, they had built a new gym. Londos’s friends would go over to the gym every day and work out or run the track. But hewastransﬁxedbythewrestling.Andhe’dgoover there day after day and just watch people wrestle inthegym.Andthenhe’dcomebackatnightwith thebrothersandwrestlebasicallyonthemattress putting into practice what he had seen during the day.That’swheresomethingreallyclickedforhim. And that’s when I think he got the idea that this wrestlingisfun.I’mgoingtotryandcontinueit.

From Chicago he moved to San Francisco and joined the YMCA He wrestled there first, very unsuccessfully, getting his face rubbed into the mat.Butagain,persistent,he’snotgoingtogiveup until he’s mastered this Londos became the top lightheavyweightonthePacificCoastwithinonly a period of about three years. And that propelled him onward So he picked up the idea of wrestling really in Chicago when he was probably about 16 PutintopracticeinSanFranciscoinhislaterteenage years And stuck with it until his last match in 1959whenhewas65yearsold.Ifthatisn’tdedicationtoasinglepursuit,Idon’tknowwhatis Y:ObviouslyhisbirthnamewasnotJimLondos IsitChristosTheofilouorTheofilos?Andwhatwas therelationshipwithhisfatherlike.

SJ:What we discovered with our research from the Greek newspapers was that his last name was Theoﬁlou.ButwhenhecametoAmerica,heAmericanized it to Theoﬁlos The relationship with his father was unique His father had more or less disowned him, but in his case, it became a major motivator for him to show his father that he was wrong When I went to his daughter’s house in Colorado she let me go through the pictures and personal effects and so forth I saw this picture of him and his father It was taken in 1933 after the match that drew 90,000 to 100,000 fans in and around the Olympic Stadium. When I turned it over and read the inscription, it said, “Athens 1933 when my father toldme,youaremyson.”AndIshookalittlebitwhenIsaw that. Because here’s a man who at that point was a wrestling champion of the world. He was, I think 39 years old at that time, he was an idol on every continent and he’s still concernedabouthisfather’sacceptance.

Y:TellusaboutLondosgoingbacktoGreecein1928and whathappenedthere.

SJ: Londos decided it was finally time to go back to Greece in 1928 He hadn’t been there in the better part of twodecades Hismotherhadunfortunatelypassedawayin the interim And his father was getting old. I think he was partially unaware of how he would be received there. He kept up with what was going on in Greece but I don’t think he had any idea of what was in store for him when he went toGreecewithhisfriendandtrainer DimitrisTofoulos One oftheearlypeoplehemeetsisthePrimeMinisterofGreece Elefterios Venizelos who told Londos, “I’m paraphrasing here,“We’reluckytohaveyouhere Youcanboostthemorale oftheGreeks We’venotbeenhavingiteasy Andyouarean importantpersonhere.”Ican’timaginethatLondoshadany conceptionthathewouldbereceivedinthatfashion.Buthe wasgreetedlikeaforeigndignitary Whenhearrivedthere, they had parades and celebrations for him. And it changed tosomedegreethewayhethoughtofhimself Becausehe’d been gone for so long yet here were all these people who were following his career, who were following him, who wereaskinghimtostayinGreece Andhesaidhejustfeltas though he was among his friends and his brothers in a way that he probably was not feeling in the United States And I think there was another element in his drive for success. Hearing for the first time crowds actually chanting, you know, “Zito (long live) Londos, Londos, Londos.” in a way that he’d never had before And that’s where he I think cameoutofhisfirsttriptoGreecein1928withtheabsolute determination to win the world championship for himself forhisfather,andforGreeksinGreeceandaroundtheworld. DuringhisprimeintheGreeknewspapers,andespecially the Greek sports newspapers, he was like Ali or Michael JordanorLeBron.Justwhateverhedidwasnews Evenifhe didn’tdoanything,itwasnews BecauseIthinkthepublishers understood, as they did with Ali or LeBron or Michael, hisnamesoldpapers Eveniftherewasn’tanythingtoreport, Londos does nothing today. People would buy the paper to see oh,hedidn’tdoanythingtoday.That’sokay maybehe’ll dosomethingtomorrow IthinkhewasagoldmineforGreek sportspublicationsinparticular

Y:WhatwasLondosﬁrstbeltthatheheld?

SJ: It was a World Heavyweight Title and it was called

Wrestling Championship from Page 1

IrvinLegendwillalsobeinactionwhenhehostsanopen challenge at the Norfolk Masonic Temple Legend has not been seen in VCW since Grave Conflict in October after beingattackedbeforeamatchwithPapadon.Awinagainst amysteryopponentcouldhelphimearnaprominentpositioninVCW,butalosswouldhalthismomentumfurther AtTidingsofDestructioninDecember CommanderKing captured the VCW Liberty Championship in a multi-man match by pinning Myron Malone Since then Malone has taken King to his limit in two separate title matches, but despitecomingclosetowinninghisfirstsinglestitleinVCW, thechampionhascheatedtoretain.OnMay3,Maloneand King will meet for the championship once more in the first

the Millionaire’s Belt because he was presented with that World Title belt at a meeting of the Millionaire’s Club at MadisonSquareGarden That’sthebeltyousometimessee apictureofhimwiththathas12panelsdepictingthehistory of wrestling from ancient times to modern times That belt stillexists,althoughI’veneverseenit.

Y:SowhogavehimthenameJimLondosandthemoniker oftheGoldenGreek?

SJ: Londos gave himself the name in consultation with the sports editor of the newspaper in Portland, Oregon, where they just kind of came to the conclusion that Christos Theophilos was too much and he needed something that sounded a little bit better Now, he initially wrestled as JimWilsonsohekepttheJimfromtheJimWilsonidentity that he used in Oregon and then the story is, as we understand,hetookLondosbysortoftakingthelastnameofJack London the famous author, who was from Oakland not farawayfromwhereLondoshadhisveryﬁrstprofessional wrestlingmatch.

Y:HowabouttheGoldenGreekpart?

SJ: That was bestowed upon him by sports writers I don’t think he ever called himself that, but that just started toappearinnewspapercolumnswhentheywerelookingfor somekindofdifferentphraseologytouseonhim.

Y: In your opinion, how did he put himself over, how did hebecomesofamousandpopular?

SJ: He wasn’t the first to use a little bit of showmanship or flair, but he put it together in a way that no one ever had before, in part through his own imagination, and in part by thefactthathehadworkedinvaudevilleforquiteawhile,in tumblingactsandmonkeyactsandsoforth,andunderstood how to engage with audiences So the short explanation is he’s the guy who transformed it from sort of a dull, gray, black and white sport with men in black tights wrestling eachother toincorporatecolorandflairandshowmanship and aboveall,engagementandaconnectionwithhisaudience That was unique And you take the way he wrestled from underneath, using counterholds to escape trouble, and then the natural support he had from Greek-Americans and blue-collar workers, and then the fact that he just plain looked good He was the first matinee of a pro wrestling camp, so he attracted a female crowd, maybe the way anOscarDeLaHoyadidlateroninboxing Mightnothave beenthebiggest,mightnothavebeenthebest,buthehadan appealthathecouldhaveacrossdemographicslikenobody else Heunderstoodhisaudience howhewasreachingthem andheunderstoodhowtomovetheaudienceswithhissort ofuniqueblendofathleticismandtheater

Y:WhathappenedatthePanathenaicStadiuminAthens when he wrestled there in 1933 is stuff of legends Tell us a

VCW Last Chance match: if Myron Malone loses, he can never challenge Commander King for the Liberty Championshipagain.

VirginiaHeavyweightChampionDevantes,RexLawless, and The Boar have been involved in inconclusive matches withoneanotherforseveralmonths.InDecember,Lawless andBoarmetinaone-on-onematchthatendedinadouble disqualification ArematchtookplaceinFebruarywiththe winner receiving a title match against Devantes Lawless wonthatencounterafterDevantesinterferedandunintentionally struck Boar with a chair. The awarded title match tookplaceinMarch,butitendedinadisqualificationwhen BoarinterferedandunintentionallyspearedDevantes Lawless is furious after failing to capture the Virginia Heavyweight Championship without being defeated. His disqualificationwin,however,hassecuredhimahighprofile matchagainstthefirstDirtyCupwinnerChrisSlade.Slade

littlebitaboutthatmomentintime

SJ: That was kind of the ﬁrst WrestleMania in a way.He’scomingbacktoGreecenowforthesecond time Even more famous than he was the first time And Athens just stopped for a week, period. And he drew I can’t tell you how much work we spentonthis Buthedrew,we’reprettysure,about 70,000 people in the 60,000 seat stadium. When it’s accounted for people who crashed the gates andticketsellerswhorippedticketsinhalfandsold one single ticket as two tickets. And then there’s a conservative20,000peopleonthehillsideoutside of the stadium. So I was trying to be conservative in number estimates all throughout the book. I’ve always taken the lower number. A lot of people go 100,000, more than that. I think 90,000 is a very safe ﬁgure for people who saw that match. Which ofcoursewasamarkthatwouldstandfordecades anddecades

Butwhat’simpressiveaboutthatisthathereally, at that point, became more than a wrestler He became a national idol. Just like at WrestleMania, before the match began, one of the famous Greek singers,RosaEskenazi,sangasongofpraisetohim. Rosa? In the audience is the Greek Prime Minister Kostantinos Tsaldaris, the Mayor of Athens, the Foreign Minister of Romania. It’s like WrestleMania.Itwassobig Itwasremarkable Youcan stillseeonYouTubeverybriefclipsofthis Youcan see the people filing into the stadium, row after rowafterrow.It’sstunningtothinkofthatin1933 It’s stunning to think about that in 2025 The way peoplefiledintothatstadium.What’skindofinterestingisthattheringwasinthemiddleofthefield. The seats were all in the stadium. They did not put ringside seats down on the field. If they had, 80,000probably maybemore,iftheytriedtofillin thewholestadium.

Y: In 1934 Londos was back in America and ﬁnallyTHEmatch10-15yearsinthemakingagainst Strangler Lewis took place at Ringley Field. How wasLewisconvincedtoﬁnallywrestleLondos?

SJ: Lewis needed the money Strangler Lewis may have been ﬁghting for the World Championship but Londos was representing his country andstilltryingtovalidatehimselfintheeyesofhis father Londos and Lewis really did not like each other but they ﬁnally came to the conclusion that, much like Ali and Frazier, they needed each other to some degree and there could probably be a pretty big payday if it was done right. And they were the two biggest names in wrestling Can youimaginethistoday?Thetwobiggestnamesinwrestling wouldn’t wrestle each other for 10-15 years for a variety of reasons,foundedandunfounded.

Butﬁnally,youreachedapointin1934whenLewisneeded themoney wantedanothershotattheWorldChampionship and Londos understood that as successful as he had been, his career would not be validated unless he had a victory overLewis Sotheyweren’twrestlingforthechampionship of the world, they were wrestling for the championship of eachotheranditresultedinthemostpublicizedmatchinthe US to that date, rivaling only the Gotch vs Hackenschmidt match It set a gate record of about $96,000 I don’t know howmanymillionsthatistoday,butit’salot.Andremember, thisisnotWrestleManiawheretheyhavealoadedcardof10 shows okay?Thiswasacombinationwrestlingandboxing showinChicago Acoupleboxingmatchesbutreally there wasonlyoneﬁghtthatmattered.Andsoitwasn’ttheWWF thatdrewtheFederationoritwasn’taWrestleManiaevent thatdrew,itwasLondosvsLewis

Y: Londos then went on a World Tour Can you tell us aboutthat?

SJ:In1936-1937,Londoswentoninessenceaworldtour and wrestled in England, France, South Africa, Rhodesia, Egypt, Cyprus, Turkey and more. He covered pretty much everything He was regarded as a national hero when he went to Cyprus He finally arrived there in May 1937 and again the newspapers, we were able to get hold of some of the newspapers from Cyprus, hailed him as a conquering hero ThewayIphrasedthatperiod1936-1937whenhewas wrestling in all those countries, he truly became a wrestler to the world, the first international superstar He wrestled inAthensin1937andtheGreekPrimeMinisterwhobythen was really a dictator Ioannis Metaxas accompanied him to the ring Even a dictator knows to associate with the most popularfigureinthecountry

Y:NotonlydidJimhavecharitiesthathequietlycontributed to, but he was honored by President Nixon and King PaulofGreece,correct?

SJ: Yes, he had trophies and certificates and things that he had done on behalf of Greece and the war orphans His beneficenceextendedfrombuyingLibertyBondsinWorld WarItoraisingmoneyforGreekrefugeesandGreekorphan funds through World War II and beyond. Nixon did honor him with a certificate King George as well. He had a list as long as you are of various things that he’d been involved in. I don’t think he ever sought some kind of award for doing what he did. For example, this is not in my book, but for example, on his farm in Escondido, California in the 60s, when wrestlers fell on hard times, he’d hire them just to workonthefarmalittlebitandhelpthemgetontheirfeet. Alittlethinglikethatmadeahugedifference.Themayorof San Francisco gave him the key to the city He had all kinds of civic and humanitarian awards And then the one that’s themostlastingistheJimLondosMemorialWrestlingTournament, which still goes on every year in Escondido Every January, Jim Londos Memorial Wrestling Tournament for high school wrestlers continues. It’s been going on for the betterpartof50years

Yiorgoisanarts,entertainmentandsportswriter Astage,TV andmovieactor,heisalsoasportsentertainer,educator,motivational speaker writer storyteller and columnist.

has been absent from VCW in recent months due to injury andavictoryforhimorLawlesswouldestablishthemasthe topcontenderfortheVirginiaHeavyweightChampionship Meanwhile, Boar and Devantes are infuriated with one anotheraftercostingeachothermatchesthroughmiscommunications Asaresult,VCWofficialshavemadeaVirginia Heavyweight Championship match official for May 3 betweenbothwrestlers Bothmenhaveproventhemselves as unstoppable forces inside the ring With the top prize of theCommonwealthontheline,andavengefulRexLawless plotting against both men, who will leave Norfolk as the VirginiaHeavyweightChampion?

Tickets can be purchased online or at the door on Saturday,May3.TheNorfolkMasonicTempleislocatedat7001 GranbySt,Norfolk,VA23505.Doorsopenat6:30p.m.with belltimeat7:30p.m.

AuthorSteven Johnson and his book aboutwrestler Jim Londos. (COURTESY PHOTOS)

Spice up brunch this Mother’s Day

Children commonly like to give their mothers a break fromcookingonMother’sDay.Youngstersmaybeeagerto helpoutinthekitchenandwhipupsomethingthatMom is certain to enjoy. But many recipes can be complicated foryoungerchildrenorotherswhomightnotbesoadept withmealcreation.However,withafewingredientsthat families may already have on hand it’s possible to craft a deliciousMother’sDaybrunch. This recipe for “Wee Chicken & Waffles with Jezebel-MapleSyrup”fromDeniseGee’s“SouthernAppetizers: 60 Delectables for Gracious Get-Togethers” (Chronicle Books) utilizes commercially available miniature waffles andpopcornchickenbitestocreateachickenandwaffles dish with a kick. Serve alongside mini muffins, deviled eggs cheese and crackers and other brunch dishes that aresimpleforyoungstersandtheirlittleﬁngerstoprepare.

WeeChicken&Waffles withJezebel-MapleSyrup

Serves 10 to 12, three or four waffles each

40miniwafflesfroma10.9-ouncepackage, lightlytoasted

40piecescookedfriedpopcornchicken

FinelychoppedfreshItalianﬂat-leafparsleyor greenonionforgarnish(optional)

Hotsauceforserving

Jezebel-MapleSyrup

2cupsmaplesyrup

¼cuppineapplepreserves

¼cupapplejelly

1½tablespoonspreparedhorseradish

¾teaspoongroundblackpepper

½teaspoonsalt

To make the syrup: In a large microwave-safe glass measuring cup with pour spout (one holding at least 3 cups)orabowl,addthemaplesyrup,pineapplepreserves, applejelly,horseradish,pepper,andsalt;whisktocombine Microwavethemixtureonhighfor35seconds.(Youalso canheatitinasmallsaucepanonlowuntilthemixtureis warm.) Stir and taste, adjusting the ﬂavor if desired. Set thesyrupaside

Placethetoastedwafflesonalargeservingplatter Top each waffle with a piece of chicken. Drizzle the chicken-wafflebiteswithabout1teaspoonofthesyrup Garnish withtheparsley,ifdesired,andservewiththeremaining syrupandhotsauce

Drainasparagusandsoakinicewater

Inlargebowl,mixdrainedasparagus,vegetableoil,salt andpepperuntilcombined.

Flour surface area. Using rolling pin, roll out pastry to 10-by-16-inch rectangle Transfer pastry to parchment-lined baking sheet Prick pastry with fork. Bake about 12 minutes or until golden brown. Cool slightly on bakingsheet.

Inlargebowl,mixfontinacheese,gruyerecheese,shallot, egg yolks, milk, nutmeg and salt and pepper, to taste, untilcombined.Spreadcheeseoverpastry,leaving1inch aroundedges.Layasparagusovercheesemixture. Bake5minutes,oruntilcheesehasmelted. Sprinklelemonzestovertartandserve.

Say Goodbye to Basic Brunch

ByCulinary.net

Thesameoldbrunchmenuweekafterweekcanbecome tiresomeanddull.It’sbland,boringandyourtastebudsget usedtothesameﬂavorsrepeatedly

It’s time to add something new to the table with fresh ingredientsandsimpleinstructionstoenhanceyourweekendspread.

Try this recipe for an Easy Brunch Quiche that is sure to have your senses swirling with every bite. This quiche islayeredwithmanytastesandavarietyofingredientsto giveitcrave-worthyﬂavor.

To create this dish, start with one package of broccoli and cheese then microwave it for 5 minutes until heated through.

Add12slicesofchoppedbacontoaskillet.Whilecooking add ½ cup of green onions Cook for 2 minutes then add1cupofmushroomstotheskillet Cookfor4minutes anddrainthegrease

In a small mixing bowl, combine four eggs and 1 cup of milk. Whisk together Add egg mixture to the broccoli andcheese Alsoadd1cupofshreddedcheeseandstirthe ingredientstogether

In two separate pie shells, spoon in the bacon mixture then pour the egg and broccoli mixtures over the top Sprinkle with a little more cheese then bake for 35-45 minutesat350F.

Witharangeofingredientsfrombroccolitobacon,this quicheisabrunchhero.Whilebaking,thecheesegetsall melty,andwitheverybitethemushroomsaddtextureand earthy ﬂavor. The ingredients combine together to make somethingwarm,heartyandfresh. Find more brunch recipes and cooking ideas at Culinary.net.

EasyBrunchQuiche

Serves: 12

1package(10ounces)frozenbroccoliwithcheese

12slicesbacon,chopped

½cupgreenonions,sliced

1cupmushrooms,sliced

4eggs

1cupmilk

1½cupsshreddedcheese divided 2frozendeepdishpieshells(9incheseach)

Heatovento350F.

Inmediumbowl,addbroccoliandcheesecontentsfrom package. Microwave 5 minutes, or until cheese is saucy Setaside

In skillet, cook chopped bacon 4 minutes Add green onions;cook2minutes Addmushrooms;cook4minutes, or until bacon is completely cooked and mushrooms are tender Drainontopapertoweloverplate Setaside In medium bowl, whisk eggs and milk until combined. Add broccoli and cheese mixture. Add 1 cup cheese. Stir tocombine Setaside In pie shells, divide drained bacon mixture evenly Divide broccoli mixture evenly and pour over bacon mixture.Sprinkleremainingcheeseoverbothpies Bake40minutes Allowtocoolatleast12minutesbeforeserving

Note: To keep edges of crust from burning, place aluminumfoiloverpiesforﬁrst20minutesofcooktime

Remove after 20 minutes and allow to cook uncovered untilcompleted.

A Seasonal Spring Surprise

ByCulinary.net

You can almost feel spring in the air and with the warmerweathercomesdelicious delectablefoods From casseroles to fresh fruits and wholesome vegetables, a change of season offers something to look forward to for nearlyeveryfoodie

A spring dish that is sure to impress is this Cheesy

Asparagus Tart. It has melty cheese, cooked asparagus and an under layer of puff pastry baked to golden brown perfection. Start by cooking your asparagus on the stove top in 5 cups of water for 5-8 minutes Then soak it in an ice bath until cooled. Transfer to a mixing bowl to add vegetable oil,saltandpepperfortasty seasonedveggies Now it’s time to work with your puff pastry. Sprinkle some flour on a flat countertop Roll out the thawed puff pastrytoa16-by-10-inchrectangle Movetoalinedbaking sheet and prick with a fork to create a thin, flaky texture. Bakearound12minutesandcool.

The ﬁnal steps: mix the cheeses, shallots, egg yolks, nutmeg, salt and pepper Spread this mixture across the pastryandlayasparagusoverthetop Bake5moreminutes Foralittleextraﬂavor,addlemonzestoverthetart

This tart is a perfect appetizer before Sunday brunch ortocutupandtakeoutsideforsomealfrescodiningthis spring

It’sgotgooey,meltedcheeses,isseasonedwellandhas hearty asparagus on top Plus, it’s a yummy way to add vegetablestoyourkids’diet(andyours,too). FindmorespringrecipesanddiningideasatCulinary.net.

CheesyAsparagusTart

Servings: 8-10

5cupswater

1poundasparagus

icewater

2 teaspoonsvegetableoil

¼teaspoonsalt,plusadditional,totaste divided

¼teaspoonpepper plusadditional,totaste divided ﬂour fordusting

1sheetfrozenpuffpastry,thawed

1cupgratedfontinacheese

1cupgratedgruyerecheese

1tablespoonshallot,minced

2eggyolks

3tablespoonsmilk

¼teaspoonnutmeg

1lemon,zestonly

Heatovento400F. In large skillet, add water and asparagus Cook 5-8 minutesuntilasparagusisbrightgreen

Measles cases on theriseinthe U.S.:

ByTRICARECommunications

FALLS CHURCH, Va.— Youmay have heardaboutthe ongoing measlesoutbreak intheU.S.AsofApril10,therehavebeen712 conﬁrmed cases in 2025,according to the CentersforDiseaseControlandPrevention While mostofthesecases areinTexas and NewMexico, cases have been rising across thecountry

Anyone who isn’tprotected against measlescangettheillness—andchildrenare especially at risk of gettingseriously sick

Youmay be wonderinghow to keep your familysafe

“Measles is morethanjustarash; it can lead to severe illness,and it’s extremely contagious—youcancatchitjustfrombeing in the same room as an infected person, explained Dr.Eric Deussing,Public Health Emergency Officer for theDefense Health Agency.“So,it’simportant to takesteps to keep youand your lovedonesprotected andlearnhowtorecognizepotentialsymptoms.Twodosesofthemeasles,mumps,and rubella, or MMR, vaccine provide the best protectionagainstmeasles.”

Here’swhatyouneedtoknow. What is measles?

Measlesisahighlycontagiousillnessthat can cause serious complications.Itspreads through theair when an infectedperson coughsorsneezes—sometimes,thishappens

uptofourdaysbeforethey’reevenshowing symptoms

Peopleofany age can getseriouscases of measles.But the followinggroups areat increasedriskforcomplications:

Childrenyoungerthanage5

Adultsolderthanage20

Pregnantwomen

Peoplewithweakenedimmunesystems

Recognizing measles signs and symptoms

Measlessymptomsusually appear betweensevenand14daysafterinfection

Initialsymptomstypicallyinclude:

Highfever(sometimesabove104degrees)

Cough

Runnynose

Red,wateryeyes

Twotothreedaysafterthestartofsymptoms,you maysee tinywhitespots (Koplik spots)inyourmouth.

Inthreetoﬁvedays,youmaydevelopthe measlesrash—ﬂatredspotsthatusuallystart ontheface,andthenspreaddownthebody towardsthefeet

Common complications of measles are ear infections and diarrhea. More severe complications can include pneumonia, swellingofthe brain, and other conditions thatcanleadtohospitalization Areyouorafamilymembershowingsigns ofmeasles?CalltheMilitaryHealthSystem

Nurse Advice Line at 800-TRICARE (8742273). Describeyour symptomstoaregistered nurse,who canadvise youonwhatto donext.

Preventing measles

Your best defense against measles is getting vaccinated. Most people who got their vaccination have protection against measlesforlife,asdescribedbytheCDC The measles,mumps, and rubella, or MMR,vaccine protects againstmeasles as well as mumpsand rubella. This vaccine is availabletothoseolderthan12monthsold.

The measles, mumps,rubella, andvaricella, or MMRV, vaccine protects against these illnesses as well as chickenpox. This vaccine is only availabletochildren12 monthsoldthrough12yearsold. Both theMMR and MMRVvaccinesare administered in twodoses.Childrenunder age12should getthe ﬁrstdose between 12 and15monthsold,andthesecondbetween 4and6yearsold.(Childrenmayalsogetthe MMRVseconddosethreemonthsafterthe ﬁrstdose.)

Older children, teenagers,and adults should get one or twodoses of theMMR vaccineiftheydon’thaveevidenceofimmunity.(Note:You’reconsideredimmuneifyou were born before1957,since it’s likelyyou were infected naturally.) Dosesshould be givenatleast28daysapart.

TRICAREcoversage-appropriatedoses

of these vaccines,asrecommended by the CDC.You don’tneed areferralorother approvaltogetthesevaccines.Asdescribed intheTRICAREPharmacyProgramHandbook (online at https://tricare.mil/Publications/Handbooks/pharmacy), youcan get thesevaccinesatnocost,aslongasyou:

Gotoamilitaryhospitalorclinic.

Go to aTRICARE retail networkpharmacy.Makesurethe person who gives you thevaccine is apharmacist. If another type of provider gives youavaccine at aretail pharmacy,youmayhaveout-of-pocketcosts See aTRICARE-authorized civilian provider.However,ifyougetotherservices atthesametime,youmayhavetopaycopaymentsorcost-shares.Thesecostsvarybased onyourhealthplan.

Ifyouliveoverseas,youcangetvaccinated atyourlocalmilitaryhospitalorclinicorby aTRICARE-authorizedcivilianprovider Do youhavemorequestionsabout the measles or getting an MMR or MMRV vaccine for yourself or your child? Talk to your healthcareprovider or contact the MHS Nurse AdviceLine (online at https:// tricare.mil/NAL).

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