IN THIS ISSUE Vo l . 2 7, No . 3 No rf o l k, VA | f l a g s h i p n e w s . c o m
Sailor spearheads Toys for Tots donation drive » See A3
01. 2 4 . 19 — 01. 3 1. 19
USS GERALD R. FORD ACCEPTS FIRST ADVANCED WEAPONS ELEVATOR
MC1 Jeff Troutman Chief Machinist’s Mate Franklin Pollydore, second from left, from Georgetown, Guyana, goes over safety procedures for the Upper Stage 1 advanced weapons elevator with Sailors from USS Gerald R. Ford’s (CVN 78) weapons department. The elevator is the first to be delivered to the ship and marks a major milestone for Ford and the entire Ford-class of aircraft carriers. Ford is currently undergoing its post-shakedown availability at Huntington Ingalls Industries-Newport News Shipbuilding.
By Lt. Cmdr. Anthony Falvo USS Gerald R. Ford (CVN 78) NEWPORT NEWS, VA.
The Navy’s newest aircraft carrier, USS Gerald R. Ford (CVN 78), closed out 2018 on a high note with the acceptance of the ship’s first advanced weapons elevator (AWE), setting the tone for more positive developments in the year ahead. AWE Upper Stage #1 was turned over to the ship on December 21st, following test-
ing and certification by engineers at Huntington Ingalls Industries-Newport News Shipbuilding, where the ship is currently working through its post-shakedown availability (PSA). The acceptance marks a major milestone for the ship and the Ford-class of aircraft carriers to follow. USS Gerald R. Ford is the first Ford-class aircraft carrier and is the first new carrier design in over 40 years. Unlike Nimitz-class carrier elevators that utilize cables for movement, the Ford class elevators are command-
ed via electromagnetic, linear synchronous motors allowing for greater capacities and a faster movement of weapons. The new design will allow the ship to be able to move up to 24,000 pounds of ordnance at 150 feet-per-minute. This is in contrast to the 10,500 pounds at up to 100 feetper-minute on a Nimitz-class carrier. “This will allow us to load more aircraft faster, and in the long run, increase our overall sortie generation rates,” said Lt. Cmdr. Chabonnie Alexander, Ford’s Ordnance
Handling Officer. But aside from the advantages of the new AWE, the new ship design also offered a chance to streamline the overall movement and assembly of weapons to allow for even greater efficiencies. Ford features three upper stage elevators that move ordnance between the main deck and flight deck, and seven lower stage elevators that move ordnance between the main deck and the lower »»See ELEVATOR | A7
Navy identifies Sailor killed in Manbij, Syria
Navy Medicine East leader receives 2018 Association of Military Surgeons of the United States Lifetime Achievement Award
From U.S. Fleet Cyber Command / U.S. 10th Fleet Public Affairs
By PO2 Stephane Belcher Navy Medicine East
WASHINGTON
A Sailor assigned to Cryptologic Warfare Activity 66 (CWA 66), based at Ft. George G. Meade, Md., was killed while deployed in Manbij, Syria, Jan. 16, 2019. Chief Cryptologic Technician (Interpretive) Shannon M. Kent, 35, was killed while supporting Combined Joint Task Force — Operation Inherent Resolve. “Our thoughts and prayers go out to the family, friends, and teammates of Chief Petty Officer Kent during this extremely difficult time. She was a rockstar, an outstanding Chief Petty Officer, and leader to many in the Navy Information Warfare Community,” said Cmdr. Joseph Harrison, Commanding Officer, CWA-66. Kent, who hailed from upstate New York,
PORTSMOUTH, VA.
Capt. Cynthia Gantt, chief operating officer, Tidewater Military Health System’s Enhanced Multiservice Market Office, earned the 2018 Association of Military Surgeons of the United States Lifetime Achievement Award. “I am thrilled and honored beyond words to have received this award,” said Gantt. “I am so grateful for all the opportunities that I have been afforded during my entire career, and receiving the lifetime achievement award towards the end of my naval career was like a gift I never expected to receive.” Gantt was nominated for her distinguished career of consistent contributions to Navy Medi»»See GANTT | A7
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Courtesy photo Navy Medicine East Capt. Cynthia Gantt, chief operating officer, Tidewater Military Health System’s Enhanced Multiservice Market Office, earned the 2018 Association of Military Surgeons of the United States Lifetime Achievement Award. Gantt was nominated for her distinguished career of consistent contributions to Navy Medicine, including advancing healthcare safety through her leadership, clinical achievements, and mentorship.
SAILORS SAVE DUNES WITH CASTOFF TREES Personnel from Joint Expeditionary Base Little Creek-Fort Story’s Environmental Department, Sailors from Construction Battalion Maintenance Unit 202 and Amphibious Construction Battalion Two kept more than 140 former Christmas Trees out of the landfill, placing them on the sand dunes at JEB Little Creek
» see A5
Family Handout Photo provide to U.S. Navy Personal photo provided by the family of Chief Cryptologic Technician (Interpretive) Shannon M. Kent, 35, who was killed Jan. 16, 2019, in Manbij, Syria, while assigned to Cryptologic Warfare Activity 66 (CWA 66), supporting Combined Joint Task Force — Operation Inherent Resolve.
enlisted in the Navy December 11, 2003, and graduated from boot camp at Recruit Training
APPRENTICESHIP PROGRAM The program, which is now accepting applicants for 97 positions through the USAjobs. gov website, offers paid training, beginning at $15.60 per hour, and a guaranteed federal job in the field once the three-to-four-year program is successfully completed. » see B1
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»»See KENT | A7
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