Downtown Crowd, June 2022

Morgan Cole, Editor

For many of us, Memorial Day Weekend serves as the unofficial start of summer. While there are plenty of fun outdoor activities to enjoy in our wonderful sunny city during the summer, the oppressive heat makes it almost unbearable to think about doing anything outside! So, for this month’s issue, we’ve brought you a roundup of fun indoor activities to help keep you entertained (and cool)—even through the dog days of summer.

You’ll also read about one of Pensacola’s latest and greatest dining hot spots, The Truck Stop, recently opened by Pensacola chef and owner of Nomadic Eats food truck, Randy Russell. His unique take on elevated convenience-style foods have truly redefined the meaning of eating fast food.

We have also brought you details on a new exhibit coming to the Pensacola Museum of Art showcasing the large-format works of world-renowned nature photographer Clyde Butcher. Using his century-old Deardorff camera, Butcher perfectly captures the unique wilderness of the Florida Everglades. His work is nothing short of breathtaking, and I highly recommend going to check out the exhibit.

As always, we hope you enjoy reading this month’s issue.

Stay cool, and until next time, Cheers!

Publisher Malcolm Ballinger

Owner Malcolm Ballinger

Executive Editor Kelly Oden

Editor Morgan Cole

Art Director Guy Stevens

Graphic Designer Garrett Hallbauer

Contributing Writer Darien Hardy

Design Intern Lauren Barksdale

Advertising Account Executives Paula Rode paula@ballingerpublishing.com

For advertising rates or news tips contact Phone: 433.1166 • Fax: 435.9174 DOWNTOWN

Downtown Crowd is locally owned and operated. It is published monthly for distribution in Pensacola, Florida. All Right Reserved. Reproduction or use of the contents herein is prohibited without written permission from the publisher. Comments and opinions expressed in this magazine represent the personal views of the individuals to whom they are attributed and/or the person identified as the author of the article, and they are not necessarily those of the publisher. This magazine accepts no responsibility for these opinions. The publisher reserves the right to edit all manuscripts. All advertising information is the responsibility of the individual advertiser. Appearance in this magazine does not necessarily reflect endorsement of any products or services by Ballinger Publishing. © 2022 Follow us

25 Years & Counting at

Pensacola’s “Fun” Art Gallery

lue Morning Gallery, more commonly known by locals as Pensacola’s “fun” art gallery, celebrated its 25th anniversary on April 19 with a festive gathering featuring local art, live entertainment and good company. The local co-op gallery, located at 21 South Palafox Place in downtown Pensacola, first opened its doors in 1997 with just 12 members. Today, Blue Morning Gallery has grown to become a Pensacola staple that showcases award-winning artists from across the region. Drawing in hundreds of art lovers and talented artists each year, Blue Morning Gallery continues to remain a “must visit destination” for local art.

Blue Morning Gallery was initially founded to showcase the work of local artists and encourage the development of new creative talent within the local community. “Our goal is to be the catalyst for life-long discovery, appreciation and exploration of the arts. Our colorful, cooperative fine arts gallery features the work of more than 60 local artists,” Blue Morning Gallery Director of Marketing Suzanne Tuzzeo said.

A local artist herself, Tuzzeo has served as the gallery’s director of marketing since 2012. As a photographer, Tuzzeo uniquely captures the ordinary and notso-ordinary elements and locations; she seeks out distinctive locations, often off the beaten path, as well as a selection of local icons and gives them her own creative twist. Her work offers an inimitable combination of the familiar and the strange. “Attentively tweaking each individual photo with my personal use of color, which is accentuated by the distinct custom finishing, allows me to produce exclusive photographs that offer the individual perspectives you will find in my work,” Tuzzeo said.

by Darien Hardy

Blue Morning Gallery operates as a cooperative gallery, or co-op, meaning that each member is also an owner. Members work in shifts to help keep the gallery up and running, and everyone is involved in the decision-making process regarding the performance of the shared gallery space.

The gallery showcases art mediums of all types: painting, photography, pottery, woodworking, stained glass and other handcrafted pieces ranging from the complex to the practical, eccentric to nostalgic and small works to large formats.

Blue Morning Gallery actively participates in downtown and other local community events such as downtown Pensacola Gallery Nights, weekly Palafox Markets and other pop-up events throughout the year.

“Blue Morning Gallery also mentors emerging artists, as is evidenced by the $1,000 scholarship we award each year to an outstanding University of West Florida art student,” Tuzzeo said.

Every two months, Blue Morning Gallery hosts a series of artist spotlights featuring a variety of artists and mediums. Each spotlight typically showcases between two and four artists. In addition to the artist spotlights, gallery members host their own events and art showcases within the shared space throughout the year.

Recently, Blue Morning Gallery celebrated its 25th Anniversary by hosting a special event for the community in order to commemorate the momentous occasion. Artists, guests and gallery members gathered for an evening of appetizers, live music and a special showcase featuring local, original and affordable art.

Upcoming at Blue Morning Gallery

Artist Showcase: “Expressions”

May 29 to June 25

From May 29 through June 25, Blue Morning Gallery will highlight four local artists for its latest showcase, “Expressions.” The showcase will feature the works of Jan Kurtz, Brenda Wood, Elaine Woodward and Suzette Brooks in a contemporary collection of art. Another exciting happening coming up this year is the gallery’s Holiday Wall, which features a variety of works created by members of the gallery, all of which will be on sale for less than $100. This signature event has become an annual favorite, providing our community with access to affordable art.

The latest showcase features the works of local artists Jan Kurtz, Brenda Wood, Elaine Woodward and Suzette Brooks who each bring their unique styles to present this collection of contemporary art.

Holiday Wall

December 2022 (Date - TBA)

Held each year in December, this beloved event will feature a variety of works created by members of the gallery, all of which will be on sale to the public for less than $100 each.

“The gallery is a collection of unique art and artists who are ready to share their story about their art,” Tuzzeo explained.

To members of the gallery, art is an imperative form of personal expression, so they constantly strive to cultivate a creative and comfortable environment for creating, displaying and enjoying art. For the last 25 years, Blue Morning Gallery has engaged casual browsers and avid collectors alike.

Blue Morning Gallery opens its doors seven days a week at no cost. For gallery hours and information about upcoming showcases and events, visit bluemorninggallery.com.

Follow @Blue Morning Gallery on social media for details on the latest happenings and events.

DIRECTED BY Carla Rhodes

CHOREOGRAPHED BY Lexi Mayo

THE TRUCK STOP THE TRUCK STOP

ELEVATED CONVENIENCE FOOD

by Morgan Cole

Until recently, “fast food” typically went hand in hand with an unhealthy reputation and questionable ingredient quality. However, local chef and restaurateur Randy Russell has reimagined the concept for fast-casual dining to launch one of Pensacola’s latest dining hot spots—The Truck Stop.

Fast-casual restaurants are bigger now than ever before, and with professional chefs now on board, they continue to grow in popularity. From farm-fresh salads with quality ingredients and modern takes on international cuisines, customers want the feel-good effect of being able to get a quality, flavorful meal—even when they’re short on time.

When Russell was looking to expand his business, he wanted to bring this same style of fastcasual dining to Pensacola, but with his own unique twist. After crafting a simple, but elevated, menu to fit the concept, the small diner he coined The Truck Stop was born.

“I knew I wanted to do something different with the building when we renewed our lease this past April. We have been in the building for three years now, using it as a commissary for the food truck, with a small café upfront,” Russell said.

Located at 9 E. Gregory St. in downtown Pensacola, The Truck Stop perfectly melds the convenience of grab-and-go style foods with the quality of sit-down restaurant ingredients.

“We wanted to offer more quality fast-casual food, just like we do on the food truck. The concept is a take on convenience store food, and grab and go diner food. Think fresh sandwiches, hotdogs, homemade soups, etc.,” Russell said. “The Cuban sandwich is our flagship menu item and it’s built such a reputation when we’ve served it as a special on the Nomadic food truck, we wanted to bring a quality Cuban sandwich to Pensacola, like you would find in central and south Florida.”

Russell is the owner of the internationally-inspired food truck Nomadic Eats at 9 E. Gregory St. in downtown Pensacola. For the past three years, he has been operating the Nomadic food truck, while also renting the building located next to the parked food truck to use as kitchen and food prep areas. For the past few years, Russell shared portions of the building with other local businesses, including Mrs. Jones Cold Brew and Big Jerk Soda, to use for their business operations.

The shared inside space, previously called Nomadic’s Cafe, now houses The Truck Stop diner and the kitchen space for the food truck. Though Russell said that Big Jerk Soda will continue bottling in the shop, Mrs. Jones Cold Brew has already moved to a new location.

“The name The Truck Stop, or The Truck Stop Diner, is a play on the convenience style food you would find at a truckstop or a diner located in a truckstop. It also ties in that the Nomadic Eats food truck is parked outside, since it’s literally where the truck stops,” Russell said.

Russell explained that the key to speed is keeping the menu simple. The Truck Stop’s menu offerings differ from those offered at Nomadic Eats, but will serve some of the food truck’s featured specials—one favorite being the Cuban sandwich, pressed with mojo pork, ham, Swiss cheese, house pickles and a mustard-mayo blend.

The quaint, yet trendy diner offers seating for about a dozen people, and all food items are prepared for on-the-go style dining.

“With The Truck Stop, you won’t have to have the whole sit-down restaurant experience to get a high quality meal,” Russell explained.

Russell said that from his experience traveling to other countries, he has seen how well this type of elevated fast-food model can work.

The Truck Stop menu features a variety of internationallyinspired handheld items like hand-made tamales and Vietnamese hot dogs. Everything is seasoned by hand, from the mojo pork to the herbed pork sausage.

The Truck Stop Diner functions cohesively with the Nomadic Eats food truck and is open in the evenings from 4 pm to 8 pm Tuesday through Saturday.

Russell is currently hiring for multiple positions and those interested in working at The Truck Stop are encouraged to apply. For daily specials and to check out some of the menu offerings, follow @TheTruckStopDiner on Instagram.

W ith The Truck Stop , you won’t have to have the whole sit-down restaurant experience to get a high quality meal.”

America’s Everglades: Through the Lens of Clyde Butcher

According to studies commissioned by The Nature Conservancy, Florida is one of the most biodiverse states in the United States. We rank 7th with 4,368 known animal species and 6th for vascular plant diversity, with 3,038 species.

Florida also ranks among the top five states in endemic species—animals and plants only found in our state. We have 269 species of animals that can only be found in Florida.

With such a rich tapestry of flora and fauna, writers, photographers, artists and nature lovers have hiked, biked and explored the various regions of our state for years to uncover its unique and biodiverse areas.

With his century-old camera, Clyde Butcher has been exploring and documenting the Everglades for more than three decades. The result is a stunning collection of largeformat black-and-white photographs that depict untouched parts of the nation’s largest subtropical wilderness. The rugged and remote beauty of the Everglades is captured in these works which span over thirty years of foraging into dense swampland. Delicate ecosystems, rare botanical specimens, and sweeping landscapes bring the wonder of this mysterious part of our country to light.

This summer, the Pensacola Museum of Art will be featuring Butcher’s captivating photographs in the exhibition, America’s Everglades: Through the Lens of Clyde Butcher.

Moonrise, 1986

Contributed by the Pensacola Museum of Art Images Courtesy of Clyde Butcher

The scale, extraordinary clarity and tonal range set his photographs apart as exceptional works of art, earning him recognition as the foremost landscape photographer in America today. These powerful black and white images are portraits of the eternal bond between man and nature that is the soul of the Everglades. From the deepest cypress strands of the sawgrass prairies, coastal waters, and languid estuaries, to pinpoint still-lives of rare species, Clyde reveals its ecosystems in magnificent detail. He makes an unquestionable case for why we should care about its future.

“This exhibition highlights Butcher’s artistic eye as well as his deep and long-held commitment to conservation,” says Anna Wall, Chief Curator at the Pensacola Museum of Art. “While the ideologies and beliefs of Florida citizens may be vast and wide-ranging, the natural environment of our state is something we can share and appreciate together.”

Butcher’s work challenges viewers to explore the heritage we share in the natural world and to work together to protect it. Through his photography, Butcher hopes to educate the public by bringing environmental issues to the forefront of public consciousness.

On Friday, June 10, the Pensacola Museum of Art will be hosting an Opening Reception for all of their summer exhibitions including the Butcher show. Also on view, Taking a Line for a Walk: 100 Years of Drawing and Printmaking, highlights the diverse materials, techniques and subject-matter artists have explored through drawing and printmaking over the last century. Additionally GoodsofDesires:CindyLeung, features mixed-media ceramic sculptures that utilize Chinese exports to address the complex relationship between consumerism, colonization and cultural hybridity.

On September 16th, Butcher will be present for an Artist Talk & Closing Reception at 6 p.m. at the PMA in which he will discuss his work, take questions from audience members and share his passion for Florida conservation. This event is free and open to the public.

America’sEverglades:ThroughtheLens of Clyde Butcher will be on view at the Pensacola Museum of Art from June 10 to September 18, 2022. Learn more about programming events, exhibitions and visiting the museum by heading to pensacolamuseum.org.

Right: Clyde Butcher with his 8x10 Deordorfe field camera, photo by Woody Walters

Below: Shell Key #1, 2001

TTypically, steamy temps are synonymous with summer fun: People lounging poolside with a frosty beverage, hanging out on the beach, watching a baseball game or grilling hot dogs in the late-afternoon sun. When it’s 90+ degrees (but actually feels like 120 because of the humidity), the last thing you want to do is spend any time outside. Even if summer is your favorite time of year, there are still days where the sun's draining rays are just too much to consider doing any sort of outdoor activity.

Unfortunately, there’s only so much binge-worthy Netflix you can watch and so many popsicles you can eat before you will eventually have the urge to leave the cool and comfortable confines of your home. Whether you're looking for fun things to do with friends, or just want to make the most of some indoor me-time, we’ve rounded up some cool indoor activities to help you beat the summer heat and keep you well-entertained.

Visit an AirConditioned Museum

First and foremost, you can always use the oppressive heat as an excuse to get out and explore some of our city’s museums. From the rich cultural history of downtown Pensacola to the celebrated artists on display at the Pensacola Museum of Art, our city is home to a diverse mix of museums to keep you entertained. Soak in the brisk indoor air, and some local history, at one or all of these museums.

• Pensacola Museum of Art

• Historic Pensacola Village

• Historic Pensacola: Pensacola Museum of History, Pensacola Children’s Museum, Museum of Commerce, Museum of Industry, Voices of Pensacola and more

• National Naval Aviation Museum (NAS Pensacola) *

• African-American Heritage Society

• Pensacola Lighthouse and Maritime Museum

• Quina House Museum

Find Refuge at the Movie Theater

Since you probably don’t need any help finding a movie theater, we’ve brought some other fun local theater options to explore.

Movies in the Park Series at Community Maritime Park

Although hosted outside, a nice cool breeze comes off the water in the evenings, making the event tolerable—even during the dog days of summer! Hosted by Pensacola Parks & Recreation each summer at the Community Maritime Park in downtown Pensacola, the popular Movies in the Park Park Series features free movie showings projected on the big screen once a month. This event is free and open to the community. Check out the calendar of upcoming movies online at cityofpensacola.com.

Classic & Retro Movies at The REX

The historic REX Theatre, located in downtown Pensacola, hosts a Classic & Retro Movies series as well as other independent documentaries, art films and short films on their mainstage throughout the year. Be sure to check out the list of upcoming movies and showings at pensacolacinemaart.com.

Play Some Games a Local Watering Hole

From special-themed trivia nights and vintage arcade games to Bar BINGO and more, there’s no shortage of fun and games when it comes to our local bar and brewery scene. Check out one of the many local watering holes across the city for one of their regularly hosted game nights or other fun competitive events. We’ve rounded up a few to help give you a head start!

Vintage arcade games and drinks at Play in downtown Pensacola

Bar BINGO,  held on Monday nights at 8 pm at Apple Annie’s in Seville Quarter, downtown Pensacola (Free to play!)

Blacked Out BINGO, held on Wednesdays from 7 pm to 9 pm at World of Beer, downtown Pensacola

Sunday Funday Karaoke,  held weekly on Sundays from 11 am to 3 pm at O’Riley’s Irish Pub, downtown Pensacola

Friday Night Trivia, held weekly on Fridays at 7 pm at World of Beer, downtown Pensacola (Free to play!)

The Ultimate General Knowledge Trivia Night, June 7 at 7 pm at Perfect Plain Brewing Co. in downtown Pensacola (Free to play!)

Challenge Your Friends to a Game of Indoor Axe Throwing

Grab a group of friends of family members and check out Grizzly Axes located at 6300 N. Davis Hwy. in Pensacola. Experience the thrill of throwing axes at large wooden targets inside their indoor range, or take out some frustration by breaking something in their rage room. They also have a bar that serves more than 50 different adult beverages, beers, sodas and refreshments. Grizzly Axes is open seven days a week (rain or shine). If you’re looking for something a little more off-the-wall, check out one of their Blacklight Axe Throwing Nights. Visit grizzleyaxe.com for complete details.

Try to Bowl 100

Okay, even if you can’t bowl triple digits, there’s plenty of fun to be had at one of our many local bowling alleys. For instance, DeLuna Lanes (590 E. Nine Mile Rd.) hosts a late-night cosmic bowling night on Fridays and Saturdays from 11 pm to 2 am for $14 per-person with a $3 shoe rental. If you’re looking to get started a little earlier than 11 pm, check out Cordova Lanes at 2111 Airport Blvd. in Pensacola. On Tuesdays from 6 pm to close, Cordova Lanes offers bowling games, shoes, select items from the snack bar, Longneck beer and draft pints for just $2 each. They also host Penny-a-Pin on Thursday nights from 8:30 pm to close, where what you bowl is what you pay. Games during daytime and early-evening hours range from $4.50–$5.50 per-person with a $3 shoe rental.

Get Crafty

Unleash your inner artist or get messy in the splatter room at Pinspiration Pensacola. This fun indoor craft studio offers a variety of DIY craft sessions and classes throughout the week. You can also customize your own splatter room experience for a special date night, fun with friends and more. They have a full bar that also serves draft beer, snacks and other tasty refreshments. Check out pinspiration.com for complete details. You can also unleash some creativity at Painting with a Twist at 4771 Bayou Blvd. in Pensacola. Grab a group of friends, sip, socialize and have some fun painting your very own masterpieces. Check out their online calendar at paitingwithatwist.com to find a painting you like and then on it click to register. Bring along your favorite sips and snacks and enjoy a great time out with friends or family.

Have Some Fun at the Roller Skating Rink

Not only is roller skating fun, it’s also a great workout that’s just as rigorous as running, bicycling, swimming or playing sports. It’s also low-impact—if you’re not too prone to falling or crashing! Grab some friends, hit the local skating rink and bust out some moves like you did back in the day. Pensacola is home to a number of indoor skating rinks. One local-favorite is Dreamland Skate Center at 2607 East Olive Rd. in Pensacola. They have recently updated their rink floor and DJ booth and now offer a weekly Cosmic Light & Sound Show skate on Friday and Saturday nights. You can also compete with friends in one of their skate races, laser tag skate sessions and play some good old-fashioned arcade games. Another local favorite is Weber’s Skateworld located at 6056 Stewart St. in Milton. They host weekly themed skate nights throughout the week as well as late night skates on Fridays and Saturdays. Admission prices range from $5 to $12 per-person, depending on what day or session you attend.

Hang Out at the Library or Local Bookstore

How about an excuse to do some light (or heavy) reading?

Libraries and local bookstores offer a perfect getaway during the heat. Check out one of the local West Florida Public Library branch locations throughout the city for a quiet (and cool) retreat from the heat. They also host a number of programs, book sales and community events throughout the year at their various branch locations. If a small bookstore is more your vibe, be sure to check out Open Books located at 1040 N. Guillemard St. in Pensacola. This small, non-profit co-op bookstore is packed with shelves of donated books of all different genres. Another chill, local bookstore is Bodacious Bookstore & Cafe located in the Southtowne complex in downtown Pensacola. This independent bookstore offers a variety of books and unique gift items for all ages. Bodacious has tables and comfy seating areas, along with a top-notch cafe that serves up some of the best lattes in town.

Escape from an Escape Room

Does the heat of the summer just make you want to lock yourself indoors? Why not make a game of it at Escape on Palafox in downtown Pensacola. Each room has its own theme and clues that will help you escape. You know the drill. You and your friends will be locked in a room and have to put your heads together to solve puzzles, find the clues and crack the codes to try and “escape” the room in 60 minutes or less. This test-of-wits and problem solving skills is the perfect activity for groups of friends and family to do together. The only reason you’ll be sweating during one of these escape room challenges will be from your nerves, not the temperature! Visit escapeonpalafox.com for information on tickets and to learn more about the current escape room themes.

The Little Mermaid

June COMMUNITY EVENTS

Grand Fiesta Fiesta Parade

June 3

Come catch some beads, hear the sounds of local high school marching bands and enjoy watching beautiful floats parade through downtown Pensacola beginning at 7 pm. Bring the entire family to one of Pensacola’s favorite Fiesta events. In addition to the dozens of local krewes parading, special appearances will be made by a masked DeLuna LXXII, his queen and their court.

Festival of Flight

June 4

For one day only the National Naval Aviation Museum (NNAM) will open to the public to present the Festival of Flight, honoring the 80th Anniversary of the Battle of Midway, on Saturday, June 4 from 9 am to 4 pm. The day-long family festival at NNAM will include performances by the Blue Anchor Belles, kid crafts, storytime, scavenger hunts, Battle of Midway flight stations, $5 movies, a “Flight Adventure Deck” experience, food truck vendors, National Flight Academy tours, prize drawings, gift shop giveaways and more.

Blue Angels Practice Shows

June 1-29

The National Naval Aviation Museum is pleased to open the flight line behind the museum to view Blue Angels practice flight demonstrations. Gates open at 9:30 am. The Blues are scheduled to take to the skies at 10:30 am. Practice flight dates will be held June 1, 8, 14, 15, 21, 22, 23, 24, 28 & 29. For complete event details, visit navalaviationmuseum.org.

A Chorus Line Presented by PLT

June 10-26

A stunning concept musical capturing the spirit and tension of a Broadway chorus audition. Exploring the inner lives and bittersweet ambitions of professional Broadway performers, the show features one powerhouse number after another. Memorable musical numbers include “What I Did for Love, “One,” “I Can Do That,” “At the Ballet,” “The Music and the Mirror,” and “I Hope I Get It.” A brilliantly complex fusion of song, dance and compellingly authentic drama. For tickets and complete show details, visit pensacolalittletheatre.com.

June 11

The classic Hans Christian Andersen “tail” is brought to life with the special LaBelle twist. This full production with dance, theater and singing will feature the dance academy’s older Elementary, Middle, and High School Dancers. Come join the Little Mermaid and her underwater friends as they battle the evil sea witch and find true love. The production will be held at the Pensacola Saenger Theatre in downtown Pensacola at 6 pm. For tickets and information, visit pensacolasaenger.com.

Bike Safety Day - Free Family Event

June 11

Kids & their parents are invited to join in the fun at Ride More Bicycles located in downtown Pensacola for a family-friendly, outdoor event in Downtown Pensacola centered around bike safety. We’ll be educating the neighborhood youth on how to enjoy cycling safely this summer and for years to come. The event kicks off at 11 am and is hosted by the Pensacola Association of REALTORS® Community Relations Committee & Ride More Bicycles.

Gallery Night Pensacola

“Juneteenth” Celebration . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

June 17

Gallery Night is proud to celebrate Juneetenth, a federal holiday recognizing the emancipation of Black people in the American South. Enjoy this day of celebration with cultural artists and vendors, dine on authentic cuisine and enjoy the art and culture of our vibrant Downtown Pensacola. On the third Friday of each month from 5 pm to 9 pm, Gallery Night Pensacola will once again close Palafox Street (from Garden Street to Main Street) in Downtown Pensacola and provide open streets for patrons to explore and enjoy music, art, food and more.

Ever’Market @ Nine Mile Road

June 18

This monthly market allows customers to come out and support responsible local agriculture and small businesses. The Ever’Market features multiple vendors outside of the Ever’man store located at 1000 East Nine Mile Road in Pensacola. For or complete event details, visit everyman.org.

Standing Still - A Tribute to Elton John

June 26

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Head out to the Pensacola Community Maritime Park for a special Blues on the Bay performance on June 26 at 6 pm. Ben “Almost Elton” Frey has been referred to as the closest representation of Elton’s look and vocals on the Tribute Circuit. Ben and his band of professionals are dedicated to working on every detail that makes for an incredible Elton John experience. This family-friendly event is free and open to the community. For complete event details, follow @BluesonTheBayPensacola on Facebook.

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Active learning and hands-on exploration of creative mediums for grades K-5. The weekly themes incorporate STEAM, history, conservation, world cultures, yoga, and games!

WEEKLY CAMPS

May 30th–August 5th

Ancient Art

Myths & Magical Creatures

Art Rocks!

Modern Masters

Paints & Potions

Adventures in the Serengeti

Over the Rainbow

Comics & Cartoons

Legends of the Sea

Go Green!

MILITARYMATTERSMILITARYMATTERS

AN ARMED FORCES NEWS SECTION

ASTRONAUT CANDIDATES TRAIN AT NAVAL AIR STATION PENSACOLA

STORY & PHOTO BY CHIEF OF NAVAL AIR TRAINING, ENSIGN LYNDSAY BALLEW

Seven NASA astronaut candidates are undergoing flight training at Naval Air Station Pensacola as part of a two-year training pipeline to prepare them for participation in the Artemis lunar exploration program.

The NASA Astronaut Candidate Basic Aviation Curriculum (ASCAN BAC) is administered by Training Air Wing Six (TW-6), which is responsible for the training and production of the Naval Flight Officers (NFOs) who serve as navigators, sensor operators, Weapons System Officers, and Electronic Warfare Officers inside naval aviation.

“ASCAN training is only conducted every three to four years and is very condensed compared to Student Naval Flight Officer training,” said TW-6 Ground Training Officer Mr. John Boman, who oversees the ASCAN training at NAS Pensacola. “ASCANs are in class up to 12 hours per day, or they are scheduled for two flight events per day.”

The ASCAN BAC is designed for candidates without prior military aviation training. It aims to provide students with the knowledge, skills, and abilities required to safely aviate, navigate, and communicate in preparation for follow-on training and responsibilities as NASA flight crew.

“Given the mental aptitude of these individuals, our instructors are able to introduce and practice procedures and skill sets at a quicker pace, which allows us to meet NASA specified training timelines. They have been a pleasure to work with, and knowing that TW-6 helps to put them into space is very rewarding,” Mr. Boman said.

The class includes United States candidates Christina Birch, Andre Douglas, Deniz Burnham, Christopher Williams, and Anil Menon, who were chosen from a field of more than 12,000 applicants, as well as international candidates Nora Al Matrooshi and Mohammad Al Mulla of the United Arab Emirates.

Upon arrival at NAS Pensacola, the ASCANs underwent a one-week Aviation Physiology and Aircrew Water Survival training conducted by the Naval Survival Training Institute. They then began the 10-week ASCAN BAC, which is divided into two stages, familiarization and instrument navigation.

The familiarization stage is comprised of ground school, four simulator events, and five flight events in the T-6A Texan II turboprop trainer aircraft. The instrument navigation stage is comprised of ground school, six simulator events, and six flight events also flown in the T-6A.

Several of the ASCANs are now completing flight events in the instrument navigation stage.

According to police helicopter pilot Mohammad Al Mulla, Navy Aircrew Water Survival Training was a new challenge despite his 15 years of flight experience.

“It was a really good challenge. I felt like after accomplishing Water Survival I’m more comfortable flying, even offshore. I felt really good after passing. I’m really glad to be here and learning from the Navy,” Al Mulla said.

Dr. Anil Menon, who has served as a flight surgeon for NASA, Space X, and the U.S. Air Force, says he is grateful for the quality of training provided by the Navy.

“I did general aviation and I’ve paid for myself to learn how to fly and learn from instructors, but I’ve never encountered instructors as good as the Navy instructors that I’ve worked with. I’ve just learned that there’s a next level to aviation, so it really opened up a lot of doors for me and I’m grateful for those teachers,” Menon said.

In addition to safe operation of a jet aircraft, ASCANs have four major

categories of training including operating and maintaining the International Space Station’s systems, preparing for spacewalks, developing complex robotics skills, and Russian language skills.

Deniz Burnham, who serves as a lieutenant in the U.S. Navy Reserves and holds degrees in chemical and mechanical engineering, says as the team nears the end of their training at NAS Pensacola, they look forward to the next challenge.

“We’ll be moving on to the T-38 back in Houston. The T-6 training gave us a good baseline for crew resource management, checklist discipline, procedural recall…this is kind of the foundation to being a valueadded team member, and we all look forward to moving on from Pensacola back to Houston,” Burnham said.

The Artemis program aims to put the next man, first woman, and first person of color on the moon in 2024 and to establish a sustainable human presence on the moon by the end of the decade. These accomplishments will in turn prepare humanity for the next step of solar exploration: sending humans to Mars.