Pax People Page 3
Month of the Military Child Page 4
Air Show Canceled Page 12 VOLUME 70, NUMBER 14
NAVAL AIR STATION PATUXENT RIVER, MARYLAND
APRIL 11, 2013
Pax River welcomes new leaders Shevchuk becomes 37th CO By Connie Hempel NAS Patuxent River Public Affairs Witnessed by family, colleagues and community partners, Capt. Ben Shevchuk became the 37th NAS Patuxent River commanding officer during a ceremony on April 4 at Air Test and Evaluation Squadron (VX) 23’s hangar. Shevchuk, who had been the installation’s executive officer since November 2011, said he looks forward to ensuring Pax River’s world-class workforce has an environment know they’re doing good work, and feel like they have “work worth doing.” “Putting your best effort forward shows you’re interested in the outcome and your customers,” the Skipper said. “And when
we commit to doing our best with integrity — doing what’s right even when no one is looking — that’s when we can succeed in the mission.” Stepping in amid the current fiscal constraints, Shevchuk said he looks to teamwork throughout the installation to find solutions that will overcome challenges while being candid about the associated risks. “We’re going to have to be creative, but we must also be responsible,” Shevchuk said. “We have to get ahead of potential mishaps which means being brutally honest with the risks. I expect our staff to make it clear to the chain of command what issues we face.” Managing a 70-year-old installation that’s nearly 14,500 square miles, in three Southern Maryland loca-
U.S. Navy photo by Gary Younger
Courtesy photo by Dick Myers/The Bay Net
Capt. Ben Shevchuk, right, assumes command of the naval air station from Capt. Ted Mills, left, during a change-of-command ceremony on April 4. tions, he knows how easy it is for demands to keep piling on. Staying connected to family is key to a work-life balance. “My wife calls and says she’s ‘the voice of reason’ and she’s right,” he said. “You have to take the time to be connected with family
and friends. I don’t want to let that slip away.” Being a man of faith, the Skipper also said he looks to prayer and the Bible to guide him through not only his time as the commanding
See Shevchuk, Page 16
Fleming comes back as air station’s XO By Connie Hempel NAS Patuxent River Public Affairs Two new leaders took the reins of NAS Patuxent River after a change-of-command ceremony April 4 with Capt. Ben Shevchuk fleeting up to commanding officer and Capt. Heidi Fleming coming onboard as the executive officer. Fleming, who once called Pax River home, said it’s an honor to be back. “It’s a one-of-a-kind installation,” she said. “This is really the birthplace of naval
aviation. When you talk about airframes and what the fleet is using, from infancy to the actual platform, everything comes through Pax River.” Having served here from 2006-2008 as the Scientific Development Squadron (VXS) 1 executive officer and then commanding officer, Fleming said she knows firsthand the pressures the tenants are under. And with that experience, she feels better equipped to support them as the installation’s XO. “I think understanding the mission and the challenges of the tenants is critical,” she said. “This base doesn’t exist
without those who are making the mission happen every day.” Perceptive to how the actions of one can affect others, Fleming said she understands the importance of communication and with her opendoor policy, she expects people to come to her with both good and bad news. “Communication is always a challenge because we get busy, but we can collectively put our heads together to fix it, make it right and come to a solution,” she said. One of the immediate challenges Fleming faces as she comes on board is having
Capt. Heidi Fleming NAS Patuxent River executive officer limited resources. She said an important step to overcoming that is to help leadership at the region and Commander, Naval Installations Command levels understand that Pax is different from most in-
See Fleming, Page 16
Celebrating Pax’s 70 Years
U.S. Navy photo by Connie Hempel
NAS Patuxent River’s Trapnell Airfield commemorates one of naval aviation’s most influential test pilots, Vice Adm. Frederick Mackay Trapnell (19021975). Trapnell was instrumental in establishing the U.S. Naval Test Pilot School and is credited with developing the way the Navy conducts tests and evaluations on carrier-based aircraft. See more on Trapnell and his influence on the making of Pax nearly 70 years ago on pages 13-16.
Lt. Cmdr. Michael Windom, maintenance officer for Fleet Readiness Center Mid-Atlantic Site Patuxent River, left, accepts a Personal Excellence Partnership Award on behalf of the Command from Capt. Michael Zarkowski on March 11. Zarkowski is the FRCMA commander.
FRCMA Pax River takes Personal Excellence Partnership Award By Gary Younger Commander, Fleet Readiness Centers Public Affairs Officer
If Petty Officer 1st Class Alexander Rullo looks like he hadn’t slept much the night before, it’s because he might have been on an overnight mission to help save lives. Rullo, in addition to his military duties as an aviation electrician’s mate at the Fleet Readiness Center Mid-Atlantic-Patuxent River (FRCMA-Pax River), is also a Bay District Volunteer Fire Department volunteer and a Sea Cadet mentor. Since July 2011, his efforts and the efforts of his FRCMA-Pax River co-workers have racked up more than 3,700 volunteer hours benefitting more than 90,000 people, helping the command earn the 2012 Naval District of Washington Personal Excellence Partnership Flagship award. The Commander, Navy Installation Command sponsored award recognizes exemplary voluntary service to promote youth education, physical fitness and citizenship. FRCMA-Pax River competed in the Small Shore category for commands with fewer than 200 personnel; they received the award March 11. Volunteers like Rullo say the recognition is nice, but the future return on his investment is what really drives him to give so much of his time. When not putting out fires, Rullo can be found in Norfolk, Va., sparking young imaginations as a volunteer with the Sea Cadets program there. “I started as a Sea Cadet when I was 13 and had a strong desire to be a Sailor,” said Rullo, who estimates he’s probably invested almost 2,000 hours in the program. “I’ve had a successful career so far in the Navy and I want to give back. It’s great to have some of the kids join the Navy and look you up to tell you thanks. “Some of these kids may be working for me
See Award, Page 4