Flagship 10.28.2021

www.flagshipnews.com | The Flagship | Section 1 | Thursday, October 28, 2021 1

IN THIS ISSUE Make a difference

When military members and Department of Defense personnel are confident that their children are safe and in good care, they can better concentrate on fulfilling their military and defense support responsibilities. PAGE A2 VOL. 28, NO. 43, Norfolk, VA | flagshipnews.com

October 28-November 3, 2021

Senior Navy leaders, state and local officials, and veterans and friends of the world’s first nuclear powered submarine, celebrate the commencement of a long-anticipated preservation of Historic Ship Nautilus (SSN 571) during a ceremony at the Submarine Force Museum. (MCSN JIMMY IVY)

Navy celebrates commencement of longanticipated preservation of Historic Ship Nautilus

By MCSN Jimmy Ivy

Submarine Base New London Public Affairs

Groton, Conn. — Senior Navy leaders, government and state officials, and veterans and friends of the world’s first nuclear powered submarine, USS Nautilus (SSN 571), celebrated the commencement of a long-anticipated preservation of the historic ship during a ceremony at the Submarine Force Museum, Friday, October 15.

Retired Rear Admiral Samuel Cox, Director, Naval History and Heritage Command, joined Retired Rear Admiral

John B. Padgett III, President of the Submarine Force Library and Museum Association; Mr. Bob Ross, Executive Director of the Connecticut Office of Military Affairs; Mr. Kurt A. Hesch, Senior Vice President of Programs at Electric Boat Shipyard; and Captain Kenneth M. Curtin Jr., 53rd Commanding Officer of Naval Submarine Base New London, in speaking at the celebration.

“Welcome to this wonderful celebration and momentous occasion!” highlighted Curtin. “The commencement of Nautilus’s long-awaited preservation and the very rare opportunity to see this historic ship free of

permanent pier moorings and underway once again, even if not under the power of the atom.”

Hersh spoke of the submarine’s origin and construction at Electric Boat and the excitement current shipyard workers have to be involved in its preservation.

Ross and Padgett noted Nautilus’s impact and ongoing influence not only on the Navy and submarine warfare but also on Southeastern Connecticut, the nation, and the world.

Cox thanked Navy leadership for the re-investment in the “revolutionary” Nautilus, noting that the preservation will be the

NAVFAC Mid-Atlantic Announces its Civilian, Military Engineers of the Year

By Jeffrey C Doepp

Naval Facilities Engineering Systems Command Mid-Atlantic Public Affairs

NORFOLK, Va. — Naval Facilities Engineering Systems Command (NAVFAC) Mid-Atlantic announced its Civilian and Military Engineers of the Year award selections for 2022.

“It is with great pleasure that I announce our two NAVFAC Mid-Atlantic Engineer of the Year winners for 2022. Dr. Monayem Akhand, P.E., a structural engineer at Public Works Department Portsmouth, Norfolk Naval Shipyard, Virginia, was selected as our Civilian Engineer of the Year; and Lt. Corey Cattano, P.E., Facilities Engineering and Acquisition Director at Public Works Department, Naval Weapons Station (NWS) Earle, New Jersey, was selected as our Military Engineer of the Year,” said Commanding Officer Capt. Tres Meek.

“Congratulations to these two dedicated and talented professionals for their achievements and prestigious recognition!”

Akhand, a Virginia Beach, Virginia resident and native of Atrai, Naogaon, Bangladesh, serves as a structural engineer subject matter expert, and is frequently called upon and consulted by supported commands and

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most significant work done on the submarine since it became a museum ship.

He then urged speakers and attendees to join him along the pier as Nautilus departed the museum, “underway” with tug assistance, and proceeded to nearby Naval Submarine Base (SUBASE) New London.

At SUBASE New London, Nautilus will complete an estimated $36 million preservation project to ensure the National Historic Landmark and Connecticut’s State Ship will return to the museum as its centerpiece and able to inform, educate, Turn to Nautilus, Page 7

Doctoral Student Explores Nexus of Media Narratives and Cyber Intrusion

By MC2 Leonard Weston

Naval Postgraduate School Public Affairs

(Left) Dr. Monayem Akhand, P.E., a structural engineer at Public Works Department, Norfolk Naval Shipyard, Portsmouth, Virginia, was selected as their Civilian Engineer of the Year; and (right) Lt. Corey Cattano, P.E., Facilities Engineering and Acquisition director at Public Works Department, Naval Weapons Station Earle, New Jersey, was selected as their Military Engineer of the Year. (JEFFERY C DOEPP)

colleagues. His efforts include writing multiple point papers to enhance reviewers’ under-

Turn to Award, Page 7

The power of narratives in the mainstream media has proven to be a powerful force in capturing attention and shaping perspectives.

But can international media events also serve as a precursor to cyber intrusions?

Through his doctoral research, Mitch McCarthy, a retired U.S. Marine Corps colonel, explored the relationship between the propagation of media narratives and the level of cyber intrusions on U.S. networks in subsequent days, leading to a doctorate in information sciences in mid-2021. He now serves as a lecturer for NPS’ Defense Resources Management Institute (DRMI).

McCarthy’s dissertation, titled “Media Effects on Cyber Intrusion,” explored how national news narratives emanating from other countries about the U.S. on a given day resonate within their domestic populace leading to intrusions on U.S. networks on the following day.

“Dr. McCarthy’s dissertation provides one of Turn to Cyber Security, Page 7

USS Thomas Hudner

Mutual Aid

Radiological

An intergenerational journey encompassing four countries, lots of bravery, resiliency and risk-taking led SN Imanol Moreno Fuentes to joining the United States Navy, where he serves in deck department aboard the guidedmissile destroyer USS Thomas Hudner (DDG 116). PAGE A4

Naval Weapons Station Yorktown’s Security Forces and Navy Region Mid-Atlantic Fire and Emergency Services (NWS Yorktown/CAX) work with civilian and government partners to provide security and emergency services to both the installation and surrounding communities. PAGE A7

“From the DEOCS, as management we recognized that our employees are interested in their development and looking for opportunities available to them that they may not be aware of,”. PAGE A3

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The Flagship | www.flagshipnews.com | Section 1 | Thursday, October 28, 2021

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Make a difference, build a career

By CNRMA Public Affairs NORFOLK, Va. — When military members and Department of Defense personnel are confident that their children are safe and in good care, they can better concentrate on fulfilling their military and defense support responsibilities.

The Navy’s nationally recognized Child and Youth Programs, serving infants through 18-year-olds, make sure high-quality and affordable child care and recreational programs are readily available for military and DoD families worldwide.

“I enjoy shaping minds of young children.

I look forward to interacting with the military families and my co-workers who love what they do every day to make a difference in the lives of the children,” expressed Vanessa Peoples, assistant director of Naval Support Activity Hampton Roads-Northwest Annex’s child development center. Peoples has been a CYP professional for 26 years.

Navy CYP is known and well-respected for having a tremendous impact on the entire early childhood and youth services landscape—not only for military child care, but also for children and families in non-military operated programs.

President Clinton once “hailed military

child care as the nation’s model of excellence” at a White House Conference on Early Childhood Development and Learning.

Navy CYP also invests in professionals. With more than 6,000 early childhood development professionals, they’re not only equipped to provide high quality care, but also to offer a vast array of long-term career opportunities.

“I’ve gotten the opportunity to work in three different age groups: pre-toddlers, toddlers, and pre-school,” said Shakeda Griffin, a Naval Station Great Lakes Navy CYP professional. “I was [also] able to finish out my degree while working here and [Navy

CYP] encourage it.”

Navy Child and Youth Program professionals make a difference every day in the lives of our military families.

“It is very rewarding if this is what you love to do. I like to know I made a difference, a positive impact in a child’s life,” said Danielle Hudak, a Naval Submarine Base New London CYP professional for 28 years.

“A lot of these kids have moms or dads who go out to sea for long periods of time, and I like to be able to provide some type of consistent structure and routine in these kids’ lives.”

Find your career at home or abroad. Navy CYP is in 19 states including Hawaii and other locations in Bahrain, Cuba, Guam, Italy, Japan, Korea, Singapore, and Spain. To find career opportunities visit USA Jobs and search Navy CYP.

Deputy Surgeon General, RADM Gayle Shaffer briefing “Navy Medicine Operating Forward” to the Advanced Readiness Officer Course (AROC), at NML&PDC.

By Chief Petty Officer Emilio Velez

Naval Medical Forces Support Command Public Affairs

Deputy Surgeon General, RADM Gayle Shaffer briefing “Navy Medicine - Operating Forward” to the Advanced Readiness Officer Course (AROC), at NML&PDC. This higher level leadership course is designed to prepare senior medical department officers for increased responsibilities in the Navy Medicine operational setting and is available to Lieutenant Commanders and above. AROC is an important point along the Officer Learning Continuum and a natural progression from the Basic Medical Department Officer Course.

Deputy Surgeon General, RADM Gayle Shaffer briefing“Navy Medicine - Operating Forward”to the Advanced Readiness Officer Course (AROC), at NML&PDC. (COURTESY PHOTO)

Editorial Staff Military Editor | MC1 Maddelin Hamm, maddelin.hamm@navy.mil Managing Editor | Ensign James Caliva, james.caliva@navy.mil Graphic Designer | Trisha Irving, trisha.irving@virginiamedia.com

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This civilian enterprise newspaper is an authorized publication for members of the military services. Contents of the paper, including advertisements, are not necessarily the official views of, nor endorsed by, the U.S. Government, DOD, or the Department of the Navy (DON). The appearance of advertising in this publication, including inserts and supplements, does not constitute endorsement by the DOD; DON; Commander, Navy Region Mid-Atlantic or Flagship, Inc. of the products or services advertised. Everything advertised in this publication shall be made available for purchase,use, or patronage without regard to race, color, religion, gender, national origin, age, marital status, physical handicap, political affiliation, or any other non-merit factor of the purchaser, user, or patron. If a violation or rejection of this equal opportunity policy by an advertiser is confirmed, the publisher shall refuse to print advertising from that source until the violation is corrected. Editorial content is edited, prepared and provided by the Public Affairs Department of Commander, Navy Region Mid-Atlantic.

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www.flagshipnews.com | The Flagship | Section 1 | Thursday, October 28, 2021 3

Radiological Engineering Division Head Scott Cooney discusses the importance of people development to Health Physicist and two-time shadow Jeanette. (TROY MILLER)

The Shadow Knows: NNSY’s Radiological Control’s Mentoring Program

By Troy Miller

Norfolk Naval Shipyard

NORFOLK, Va. —There is a misconception that surveys can be just a check in the box and that little results from them, including the annual Defense Equal Opportunity Management Institute (DEOMI) Organization Climate Survey (DEOCS). This survey assesses 19 factors that can impact an organization’s climate and ability to successfully achieve its mission based on feedback from civilian employees and military members.

One of the departments that has taken DEOCS feedback to heart is Norfolk Naval Shipyard’s (NNSY) Radiological Controls Department (Code 105). “From the DEOCS, as management we recognized that our employees are interested in their development and looking for opportunities avail-

able to them that they may not be aware of,” said Radiological Controls Deputy Director Support Operations and Shadow Program Coordinator Chessie Bray. “The end result is we instituted the shadowing program for Code 105 personnel which gives our people a chance to be personally mentored by our department head, division heads and managers.”

Approximately once a quarter, Code 105 personnel can volunteer to a shadow senior leadership for a day. The shadow can choose their own mentor or one can be assigned to them. For one day, the shadow spends the day with a mentor to experience what goes on outside their day-to-day work area.

“I take this time as being a mentor to get to know our workforce. Who they are?

What do they do on their off time? What are their aspirations? How I can help them to

get to where they want to go in their career here at NNSY?” said Radiological Engineering Division Head Scott Cooney. “Getting to know the person helps me better to help them. I’ve been working here at NNSY for 25 years and I want to give the workers where I once was, opportunities I never had.”

Shadowing also shows Code 105 employees the happenings at the leadership level.

“We use this opportunity to show how the divisions in Code 105 work with each other, but also how Code 105 works with other departments to complete NNSY’s mission,” said Bray. “We encourage our mentors to take shadows with them on senior management tours, facility walkthroughs, and work area surveillances to see what we do outside our department. There’s also some time spent discussing the shadow’s personal

development.”

Participants are encouraged to continue the mentoring opportunities over a long period of time, or even participate more than once with different mentors.

“I shadowed Scott Cooney and Radiological Controls Director Gary Sauers,” said Health Physicist and two-time shadow Jeanette Walden. “Their leadership styles are completely different, giving me a chance to improve my leadership skills by talking, watching and incorporating their leadership styles into my existing style.”

NNSY’s Strategic Framework has four pillars, one of which is People Development. It is being looked into how to open the shadow program to all shipyard employees where they can shadow leadership both in and out of their department, giving an opportunity to see and learn other aspects of the shipyard.

If you are interested in becoming a shadow with Code 105’s leadership, contact Chessie Bray at 396-7683 or email at Chessie.bray@navy.mil. For other departments, contact your supervisor or the person you wish to shadow to setup arrangements.

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4 The Flagship | www.flagshipnews.com | Section 1 | Thursday, October 28, 2021

Seaman Moreno Fuentes, assigned to the guided-missile destroyer USS Thomas Hudner (DDG 116), is presented a challenge coin by Rear Adm. Brendan McLane, commander, Naval Surface Force Atlantic. (COURTESY PHOTO)

Thomas Hudner Coxswain Takes Unique Path to Naval Service

By MC2 Jacob Milham

Naval Surface Force Atlantic Public Affairs

An intergenerational journey encompassing four countries, lots of bravery, resiliency and risk-taking led SN Imanol Moreno Fuentes to joining the United States Navy, where he serves in deck department aboard the guided-missile destroyer USS Thomas Hudner (DDG 116).

Moreno Fuentes hails from the seaside town of Pineda del Mar, in northeastern Spain. The seaman’s journey to naval service started years before his birth, with the escape of his father, Jose, from his native Cuba when he was a teenager. At that time, there were few avenues open to young adults just graduating high school.

“Back then, you had three options in Cuba,” says Moreno Fuentes. “You either didn’t get good grades in high school so you’d have to join the military, you could study at university, or you could go to Russia and study there. Many Cubans went to Russia, and when it was time to go back to Cuba, they took a flight and flew anywhere else in the world.

“That’s what my dad did. Instead of going back to Cuba, he escaped to Spain.”

The years went by and Jose established a career, got married, and had two children (Imanol and his younger brother) in his adopted country. However, hard times fell on the family in 2014, when Imanol was 16 years old.

“Spain is a nice country to live in, but economically it’s struggling,” he said. “In Spain, especially in coastal areas, tourism is a big industry. My mom and dad both worked in tourism, my dad as a

tour guide for Russian-speaking visitors.

When [Russian president] Vladimir Putin decided to attack Ukraine in 2014, that made Russian tourism go down by more than 60%. Most of our family’s income was during summer with that tourism. So, my dad was not going make any money that year.”

It was then that the elder Moreno Fuentes faced a difficult decision. How would he support his family? After lots of consideration, he decided they would move to Miami, Fla., where they had relatives. The plan was for the parents to find work and for Imanol and his brother to go to university. They made the move in 2015. Being Cuban-born, Jose could quickly get a green card, and Imanol and his brother were able to get one as well. However, the plan hit a snag when Imanol discovered how expensive a four-year college education is in the U.S. “The cost of college was too much,” he says.

The moment had come for Imanol to take his own leap of faith. By that time he already had a year and a half of college education under his belt and had spent several years in part-time jobs that didn’t make him much money, certainly not enough to save up for a degree. However, moving back to Spain without taking advantage of all the United States had to offer didn’t seem like a good choice, or a very courageous one. And he had heard about the military’s education benefits. The idea of enlisting grew on him more and more. But which branch to join?

“Since I had lived near the coast in Spain, I’ve always been attracted to the sea. It was at that point I thought, ‘I’m going to be a Sailor,’ ” he said.

Moreno Fuentes enlisted in the Navy in 2020 as an undesignated seaman with his eye on doing deck department-related work. At worst, he thought, he could get skilled in a new trade, do a few years, and get out. After completing basic training and arriving to his first duty station, Thomas Hudner, the small boats immediately caught his attention.

“I remember when I first got aboard and I saw the two RHIBs [rigid-hull inflatable boats], I thought, ‘I wanna drive those.’ It was one of the first things I wanted to do when I got here,” he said.

Moreno Fuentes took advantage of his time aboard the ship, quickly learning from deck department Sailors and gaining new skills. Finally, his work led him to his shipboard goal.

“I worked on my quals and finally got to a point where I was qualified enough to drive the RHIB.” His skills as coxswain proved indispensable during Thomas Hudner’s participation in exercise Cutlass Fury off the coasts of Newfoundland and Nova Scotia, Canada, this past summer. Safely navigating the rough, frigid waters off the eastern coast of Canada was not easy, especially in a small boat. But as coxswain, he safely transferred 24 personnel during the exercise with zero mishaps, and provided training to six small boat officers-under-instruction and two helmsmen-under-instruction.

“That day [when I did the personnel transfers] the sea was not in our favor,” he says. “We did get splashed a little bit but I tried my best to keep everyone dry and safe at the same time.”

Looking to the future, Moreno Fuentes,

who is now married to a Sailor assigned to a West Coast ship, wants to strike boatswain’s mate, and eventually become a teacher.

“I’ve always wanted to be a teacher, and thanks to the Navy, I now have the funding to finish my studies. Now that I’m married, I’m also planning to go to California to be with my wife,” he said. “The Navy is helping us get co-located so we can be together again.”

Throughout it all, Moreno Fuentes attributes his success more to the support of the ship’s Sailors and leadership than any personal attributes.

“Honestly, most of the things that I do, I don’t them by myself. Without the crew I would not accomplish as much as I do.

Every time that the ship gets preservation work done, it’s not a one-man job. It’s a whole team’s job. That’s something that I really emphasize.”

As his time as an undesignated seaman comes to a close and he prepares to leave his first ship, Moreno Fuentes reflects on what have been a difficult but fulfilling few years.

He also wants to make use of the knowledge he’s gained on Thomas Hudner to prepare those who take his place.

“The Navy has not been an easy road. It has its ups and downs,” he confessed. “Overall, however, I feel that it’s been a great leading point in my life and career. We have new seamen coming aboard and it’s time to pass on the torch.

“It’s my responsibility to make sure all of them get the training and understanding of what Navy life is like before I leave. I’d like to help them out as much as I can.”

SURFLANT mans, trains and equips assigned surface forces and shore activities, ensuring a capable force for conducting prompt and sustained operations in support of United States national interests. The SURFLANT force is composed of nearly 80 ships and more than 30 shore commands.

For more SURFLANT news and photos, visit facebook.com/SURFLANT, www. surflant.usff.navy.mil, and Twitter - @ surflant.

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www.flagshipnews.com | The Flagship | Section 1 | Thursday, October 28, 2021 5

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6 The Flagship | www.flagshipnews.com | Section 1 | Thursday, October 28, 2021

(COURTESY GRAPHIC)

Dual-hatted NAVSUP WSS engineer—Reserve Sailor, selected as Reserve Junior Officer of the Year

By Kelly Luster

NAVSUP Weapon Systems Support

NORFOLK, Va. — Nathalie “Snap Shot” Behn, a Mechanical Engineer at Naval Supply Systems Command Weapon Systems Support, spends most of her time supporting Sailors and ensuring readiness from behind the scenes at the Price Fighters Department. However, it was her time in uniform as a Navy Reserve Officer that earned her the title of the 2020 Reserve Officers Association Junior Officer of the Year.

Lieutenant Behn was ordered to active duty to support the Navy Reserve SurgeMain Mobilization of more than 400 Sailors at the Norfolk Naval Shipyard last July. She was the SurgeMain deputy officer in charge from July 2020 to Sept.

2021.

SurgeMain is a Navy Reserve program that provides skilled depot-level maintenance professionals to Naval Shipyards during peak workload periods, timing their annual training to prepare for mobilization while adding end strength when and where it is needed—all without impacting mission funding. The SurgeMain motto, ‘Right Skills, Right Time, Right Place,’ exemplifies the value the program adds to ship maintenance through to this program. SurgeMain Sailors are ready to mobilize anytime— anywhere, to provide direct support to the

fleet in their skilled trades, including electricians, welders, pipe fitters, sheet metal workers, riggers, mechanics and more.

Behn spearheaded numerous projects and programs benefitting the Navy. She helped mobilize and train her Sailors to provide measurable, effective support to Norfolk Naval Shipyard shops, departments, and ship maintenance projects. Their service improved availability schedules, added maintenance capability, increased efficiency, avoided contractor costs, and further cultivated Sailor skills in depotlevel maintenance. During her time as deputy Officer in Charge (OIC), Behn helped resource five submarine availabilities, two moored training ship conversion projects, and two aircraft carrier availabilities received substantial assistance. Additionally, her engaged leadership helped her Sailors attain 450 new certifications to perform shipyard maintenance, which are unprecedented numbers.

Behn said she’s proud of her selection for this award, but she sees the recognition as a team accomplishment. “Sure, my name is on the award, but it’s not about me. I could have not accomplished this by myself—this is a huge team effort,” she said, emphasizing NNSY’s motto ‘One Mission, One Team.’ “It’s about the support for every Sailor and getting our ships out of their shipyard maintenance availabilities

and out to sea where they belong. If we don’t do our jobs, they can’t do theirs.”

She said she is most proud of the strong emphasis she placed on Sailor development during her tour of duty. “We, as leaders, have an obligation to ensure every Sailor has the training they need to do their jobs safely. I sleep soundly at night because I know my Sailors are trained and ready to go at a moment’s notice and to complete the mission they are qualified to do.”

During her tenure as deputy OIC, 235 SurgeMain Sailors enrolled in the Navy Afloat Maintenance Training Strategy program, with more than 150 Sailors completing core fundamentals, and at least 15 Sailors fully completing trade skills earning a Naval Enlisted Classification code. Additionally, 12 Sailors qualified as Command Pay and Personnel Admin clerks, then processed more than 4,500 travel claims.

“Lt. Behn represents the best of the Navy. She’s a talented professional making the most of the opportunities in front of her, and she’s always working to open avenues for her fellow Sailors to make a difference in the fleet,” said Cmdr. Mike Sullivan, Behn’s Navy Reserve Commander.

“She finds an opportunity to make a major contribution, formulates a plan, and charges ahead with positive energy.”

In early Jan. 2021, she was hand-selected by Rear Adm. Howard Markle the acting ship-

yard commander, as Norfolk Naval Shipyard’s primary docking officer. This is an extremely high visibility role with unmatched operational responsibility for shipyard junior officers. As the only reserve lieutenant at Norfolk Naval Shipyard, she held this key leadership position for six months in addition to her deputy OIC duties.

When she’s not wearing a uniform to support the Navy, Behn is busy supporting the Navy behind the scenes as a Mechanical Engineer for NAVSUP WSS Price Fighters where she does a variety of duties including technical proposal evaluations for Performance Based Logistics contracts. Behn has performed detailed proposal evaluations, cost analyses, negotiation support, and proposal modeling for MK-99, SPY-1, MK-41 and H-53 Phase II, among many accomplishments.

“Lt. Behn’s selection as the Junior Officer of the Year is not a surprise to me,” said Rear Adm. Ken Epps, commander, NAVSUP WSS. “Our work at NAVSUP WSS is vital to ensure naval readiness. That is why we continue to attract and retain the most talented people like Nathalie Behn. Her dedication as a Sailor and civilian shipmate, exemplifies our Navy.”

NAVSUP WSS is one of 11 commands under Commander, NAVSUP. Headquartered in Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania, and employing a diverse, worldwide workforce of more than 22,500 military and civilian personnel, NAVSUP’s mission is to provide supplies, services, and quality-of-life support to the Navy and joint warfighter. Learn more at www. navsup.navy.mil, www.facebook.com/navsupwss and https://twitter.com/navsupsyscom.

www.flagshipnews.com | The Flagship | Section 1 | Thursday, October 28, 2021 7

Members of the York County Fire and Rescue Department and Navy Region Fire and Rescue Mid-Atlantic treat simulated wounds during an active shooter drill held at Naval Weapons Station Yorktown and Cheatham Annex for Citadel Shield/Solid Curtain 2019 (CSSC19). CSSC19 is a two-part anti-terrorism force protection exercise that is being conducted nationwide on installations, Feb 4-15. The annual exercise is not in response to any specific threat, but is used to evaluate the readiness and effectiveness of fleet and installation security programs. (MASS COMMUNICATION SPECIALIST 2ND CLASS SONJA WICKARD)

Mutual Aid Agreements Benefit Local Communities and NWS Yorktown/Cheatham Annex

By Susanne Greene

NWS Yorktown Public Affairs

YORKTOWN, Va. — Naval Weapons Station Yorktown’s Security Forces and Navy Region Mid-Atlantic Fire and Emergency Services (NWS Yorktown/CAX) work with civilian and government partners to provide security and emergency services to both the installation and surrounding communities.

NWS Yorktown Security Forces partner with Newport News Police Department, York-Poquoson Sheriff ’s Office, National Park Rangers, Virginia Marine Resources

Commission, NCIS, U.S. Coast Guard, Secret Service and other federal agencies.

“By working with our local partners we are able to support one another by sharing special capabilities among first responders,” stated Lieutenant Jared T. Leighty, Installation Security Officer. “Furthermore, we train together to ensure that tactics, techniques and procedures, equipment, training and personnel proficiency promote interoperability with our mission partners to the maximum extent possible.”

NWS Yorktown Security Forces is not the only department that works with community partners. Navy Region Mid-Atlantic Fire and

Emergency Services (NWS Yorktown/CAX) have mutual aid agreements with Newport News, James City County, York County, and the City of Williamsburg as well as partnerships with Fort Eustis and Camp Peary.

“Due to limited personnel and equipment, our agreements benefit our mutual aid partners and NWS Yorktown during major incidents and times when either Fire & Emergency Services Systems are overwhelmed with emergency calls,” stated Christopher Payne, District Fire Chief, Navy Region Mid-Atlantic Fire and Emergency Services. “The agencies are able to support each other in order to meet the

needs of the communities.”

In 2020, Navy Region Mid-Atlantic Fire & Emergency Services answered 968 emergency incidents, most of those being fire alarms and medical emergencies onboard NWS Yorktown and Cheatham Annex.

They gave mutual aid to 51 incidents, with county stations while they were responding to other emergency calls. NWS Yorktown and Cheatham Annex received assistance 8 times, from community partners, primarily with medical emergencies.

“On any given day, Navy Region Mid-Atlantic Fire & Emergency Services (NWS Yorktown/CAX) staff stations with 13 personnel for 1 ambulance, 2 fire engines, 1 Quint Aerial Device (specialized fire truck) and 1 Battalion Chief. Our mutual aid agreements are essential to mission success of our Fire & Emergency Services,” stated Payne.

Cyber Security from Page 1

the first systematic investigations of the drivers of cyber intrusion activities,” said Associate Professor Camber Warren, NPS Department of Defense Analysis and an advisor on the research.

“His evidence shows that a key element in these dynamics are the narratives transmitted through the global online news media.”

The question the dissertation set out to address is, “How do competing narratives, reported by news media sources, between the U.S. and other sovereign states, indicate the level of future cyber-intrusion activity targeting U.S.based information technology networks?”

Through his research, McCarthy was able to discern that not only does media play a role in the chance for cyber intrusions, but also the country of origin of the media is a factor. The research was based on media from anocratic, autocratic and democratic states and data on cyber intrusions from an anonymous source.

The findings of this research rest upon more than 14 million intrusions captured by the opensource intrusion detection software known as SNORT, over a 302 day period. This intrusion data was then aligned with media events, electronically scraped by the Phoenix Event Data project over the same time period, representing yesterday’s foreign media narratives directed at the U.S. McCarthy said that if you know negative media narratives are occurring today, you could increase defensive efforts against intrusions directed towards U.S. networks.

“Hypothetically, today’s negative media narratives about the United States, say specifically about the oil and gas industry, could result in tomorrow’s intrusions on those U.S. networks,” explained McCarthy. “What would that allow people in oil and gas to do? They would be able to competently defend their information technology systems.”

“Dr. McCarthy’s research provides new

scientific insights revealing, through the use of predictive modeling of cyber intrusion threats, that national narratives play a key role in shaping the behavior of hostile actors,” added Warren.

“Simultaneously, this research points the way towards capabilities that will be crucial to the broader defense community, to anticipate emergent threats in the information environment, especially in a context of great power competition.”

McCarthy found a direct correlation between

today’s narratives originating from different sovereign states within anocratic, autocratic and democratic regime types, the manner in which the media narrative was presented, and the impact on intrusions tomorrow.

Although McCarthy is still conducting more research on media narratives affecting cyber intrusions, he is in the process of developing these findings into a potential cyber defense capability.

“I would like to see it automated,” noted

McCarthy. “I want to work with the currently anonymous organization, who provided the intrusion data, and see if it could work for them in an automated fashion. I’m in discussions, presently, on how to make that a reality.”

According to Warren, as we move forward, this line of research may provide predictive models of cyber intrusion threats that allow analysts and planners to anticipate the mobilization of hostile cyber actors, and thereby to shift from reactive to proactive force postures.

Nautilus

Award

and engage the public for the next 30 years.

Nautilus’ preservation will include dry-docking the submarine at the base and extensive work to: repair and paint the hull and superstructure; replace topside decking; inspect internal and external tanks and voids; and upgrade lighting and electrical distribution. Workers from the Navy and Electric Boat, and even teak deck specialists from the Mystic Seaport Museum, will be involved in the project. The preservation is expected to take up to 6-8 months.

The most recent preservation period in which the historic submarine left its museum moorings was in 2002. For that smaller scale, 5-month, approximately $4.7 million refurbishment, Nautilus returned to the shipyard that originally built the submarine in the early 1950’s, the Electric Boat Shipyard just a few miles downriver from the museum and base.

Nautilus is the only nuclear powered U.S. naval vessel available to the public for general visitation, and when at the museum more than 100,000 guests annually toured the historic ship.

The Submarine Force Museum, at 1 Crystal Lake Road, Groton, remains open while Nautilus is away for preservation.

standing and to explain analytical methods to a broader Navy community of engineering practices.

His accomplishments included designing a unique groundwater pressure monitoring system — a first in Navy drydock inventory — to determine and monitor previously unknown groundwater pressures. He also performed detailed technical inspections and structural conditions assessments, which helped to avoid renting equipment, thus saving the Navy extensive time and money. This allowed for the scheduled docking of an aircraft carrier, and avoided unwarranted disruption to fleet maintenance and deployment schedules.

Akhand, who began working for NAVFAC in 2016, holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Civil Engineering from Rajshahi University of Engineering and Technology, and a Master of Science degree in Civil and Structural Engineering and a Doctor of Philosophy degree in Structural Engineering from the National University of Malaysia, said that it’s a great professional and personal honor to be selected.

“It is really humbling to know that my colleagues and leadership selected me as the 2022 NAVFAC MIDLANT Civilian Engineer of the Year,” he said. “I am very thankful that my management and leadership at PWD Ports-

mouth and Norfolk Naval Shipyard found my attributes, efforts, and contributions noteworthy, and for nominating me for the recognition in the first place. I deeply appreciate the opportunities I get to contribute, the supports I enjoy, and above all, the trust they put in me in facing some unique challenges.”

Cattano, a New Providence, New Jersey native who joined the Navy in 2013, arrived at NAVFAC Mid-Atlantic in 2020. He is currently dual-hatted in two division director positions within the Public Works Department at NWS Earle. He provides direct supervision over the Facilities Engineering and Acquisition Division and the Facilities Management Division, which includes a total of 34 civilians and two junior officers. Cattano spearheaded a series of key design meetings to develop a comprehensive rail upgrade project, estimated at $261 million that ranked ninth out of 63 projects across the region. Additionally, he managed the fiscal year 2021 awarding of the $11.5 million Waste Water Treatment Plant contract and the $32 million dredging contract, both of which are two mission critical projects at NWS Earle.

Previously, Cattano served as the Assistant Public Works Officer at Camp Lemonnier, Djibouti, providing direct engineering support to a Joint Special Operations Task Force responsible for counter-terrorism and overseas contingency operations, and also served as the Alfa Company Commander of Naval Mobile Construction Battalion Three, where he led

135 Seabees to provide construction equipment operation, maintenance, and horizontal construction operations during a 12-month homeport cycle in Port Hueneme, California, and a 6-month deployment in Okinawa, Japan.

His leadership enabled peak equipment availability and unit readiness in support of engineering and construction operations throughout the Indo-Pacific Command area of operations.

Cattano, who holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Civil Engineering from Lafayette College, and a Master of Science degree and a Doctor of Philosophy degree in Civil Engineering from Clemson University, said that it’s an honor and a privilege to represent NAVFAC MIDLANT as the Military Engineer of the Year.

“This award is a reflection of the outstanding team we have at Naval Weapons Station Earle and I am both proud and fortunate to serve with such talented professionals committed to mission success,” he said. “I also extend a special thanks to Capt. Meek and Capt. [Edward] Callahan [NWS Earle commanding officer] for trusting me with the leadership positions and responsibilities that advance my skills as a military engineer and naval officer. Also, great credit is due to the strong support I have on the home front thanks to my wife and son.”

Akhand and Cattano will go on to compete for the NAVFAC Echelon II Engineer of the Year awards and potentially for higher honors in the National Society of Professional Engineer’s Federal Engineer of the Year award program.

from Page 1

In his NPS doctoral dissertation, retired Marine Corps colonel and recent graduate Dr. Mitch McCarthy explored how national news narratives emanating from other countries about the U.S. on a given day lead to intrusions on U.S. networks on the following days, providing an initial study into the potential for predictive defense. (COURTESY GRAPHIC)

from Page 1

8 The Flagship | www.flagshipnews.com | Section 1 | Thursday, October 28, 2021

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www.flagshipnews.com | The Flagship | Section 2 | Thursday, October 28, 2021 1

uarterdeck

Employee of the Year David Steckler was named Naval Facilities Engineering Systems Command (NAVFAC) Washington Environmental Restoration Employee of the Year. PAGE B6

NAS Pensacola Home to Gopher Tortoise Population

By Joshua Cox

Naval Air Station Pensacola Public Affairs

command also has a loan program, organized by NHHC’s Curator Branch, which identifies which artifacts would be appropriate to loan out to certain individuals or organizations.

“We were informed that the Secretary of the Navy has a particular interest in Farragut,” said Stephanie Loden, Associate Registrar for Loans at NHHC. “Command leadership felt presenting the sword to SECNAV at this event was appropriate as part of the Navy’s birthday celebrations, connecting past and present.”

During the ceremony, Del Toro also thanked the Navy Museum Development Foundation for its kind offer to lead a national campaign to raise funds for the future NMUSN. The Navy is working towards a milestone construction event for the new museum by October 2025.

Naval History and Heritage Command will continue to connect the public to Navy history as its Curator Branch works to lend important artifacts for study, exhibition, and research, just like the one presented to Del Toro.

On a sunny day in mid-October, representatives from the Naval Air Station (NAS) Pensacola Public Works Department ventured to a site near the airfield in an attempt to catch a glimpse of a gopher tortoise hidden in an underground burrow.

In a field full of orange cones marked “gopher tortoise,” the crew located a particular burrow of an active and rather large reptile.

The crew used a scope camera with a live viewfinder to evaluate the tortoise in the burrow. After feeding the scope camera inside the burrow a foot or two, the tortoise could be seen on the viewfinder. A few moments later, the tortoise emerged from the hole — he seemed a bit agitated, yet curious while surveying the visitors and camera equipment.

NAS Pensacola is home to a population of the gopher tortoise, a species native to the Southeastern United States.

According to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, the adult gopher tortoise is a 9-15” long native terrestrial turtle, with scaly, shovel-like forelimbs and a tan, brown, and or gray shell.

“Their namesake comes from the numerous 3 to 6-feet deep and 15 to 40-feet long burrows they dig throughout their 40 to 60-year lifespan,” said Paige Wiebe, a Student Conservation Association (SCA) intern with the NAS Pensacola Public Works Department, Environmental Division.

Wiebe said the tortoise loves the approximately 1,700 acres of dry, sandy upland coastal plain areas found throughout NAS Pensacola, with populations concentrated in roughly eight locations around the installation.

Due to their rapidly declining population within the last 100 years from habitat loss, the tortoise has been listed as a threatened species in the state of Florida, according to the American Forestry Foundation.

The gopher tortoise population as of a 20172018 survey conducted on NAS Pensacola found 134 gopher tortoises and 300 burrows determined to be in use out of the 473 burrows documented, Wiebe said.

NAS Pensacola participates in gopher tortoise conservation efforts, led by the Environmental Division of the installation’s Public Works Department.

“The NAS Pensacola gopher tortoise program operates under a Candidate Conservation Agreement, which aims to work towards increasing conservation management of the gopher tortoise,” Wiebe said.

This program is officially called the Navy Southeast Region Gopher Tortoise Candidate Conservation Agreement, also known as the GTCCA. “Official gopher tortoise population surveys on NAS Pensacola are conducted every three

Turn to Birthday, Page 7

Turn to NAS Pensacola, Page 7

Naval History and Heritage Command (NHHC) Director Samuel J. Cox, U.S. Navy rear admiral (retired), Secretary of the Navy Carlos Del Toro, and Navy Museum Development Foundation (NMDF) Board President Al Konetzni, U.S. Navy vice admiral (retired), pose for a group photo at the National Museum of the U.S. Navy (NMUSN) during an event celebrating the Navy’s 246th birthday. (COURTESY PHOTO)

SECNAV Receives Admiral Farragut Sword During Navy Birthday Celebration

By MC1 Abigayle Lutz

Naval History and Heritage Command

This year, one of the most prominent leaders from the Navy’s present took time to reflect on a well-remembered admiral from the Navy’s past.

During Secretary of the Navy (SECNAV) Carlos Del Toro’s first official visit to the National Museum of the U.S. Navy (NMUSN) since assuming the position as SECNAV, Naval History and Heritage Command (NHHC) presented him with the official sword of Adm. David Glasgow Farragut for display in his office at the Pentagon.

“I am deeply honored to have Adm. Farragut’s sword in my office for all our visitors to see,” said Del Toro. “I think it will exemplify the spirit that resides in the Secretary of the Navy’s office.”

The sword came from the estate of Loyall Farragut, the son of Admiral Farragut, and contains important markings on the front and back.

“The commemorative sword bears the names of significant ships and battles during Farragut’s career,” said Jennie

Ashton, a museum specialist at NHHC. “The obverse blade is etched with names and battles from the 1862-1863 operations on the Mississippi River and the reverse bears the names of ships under Farragut’s command during the Battle of Mobile Bay.” Born in Knoxville, Tennessee July 5, 1801, Farragut gave 59 years of naval service from 1810 to 1869. Starting his career off as a midshipman, he climbed the naval ranks serving initially as executive officer on various ships before being called upon to command. At the outbreak of the Civil War, he was called to choose between his native state and the federal government. Two years after declaring his allegiance to the Union, he experienced his most brilliant victory during the Battle of Mobile Bay on Aug. 5, 1864, when he captured two Confederate ships and was quoted saying, “Damn the Torpedoes! Four Bells! Go ahead! Full speed!” Sometime later his quote was abridged to the more commonly used, “Damn the torpedoes!

Full speed ahead!”

Along with the Farragut sword, NHHC has a wide variety of artifacts from the Navy’s history in its collection. The

Hawaii Market strengthens DoD’s medical readiness, promises better patient experience

By Macy Hinds

Naval Health Clinic Hawaii Public Affairs

Dr. Brian Lein, assistant director for health care administration for the Defense Health Agency (DHA), and the new Hawaii market director, Col. Martin Doperak, hosted a ceremony at Tripler Army Medical Center on October 20, 2021, ushering in the new Military Health System market.

The Hawaii Market is on the leading edge of the Military Health System’s historic change, following its formal establishment by the DHA on July 26, 2021. By standing up the Hawaii Market, DHA enables greater collaboration across military hospitals and clinics, strengthening the medical readiness of service members and enabling these facilities to deliver the best care and patient experience.

“Safe, reliable patient care is the cornerstone, expectation, and priority for military healthcare in Hawaii,” said Doperak. “Regardless of service affiliation, patients should know they are receiving the highest level of care when they walk into any Army, Navy, or Air Force treatment facility on the island. DHA

Hawaii Market Director Col. Martin Doperak. (COURTESY PHOTO)

reinforces and facilitates this promise to our warfighters and their families.”

The Hawaii Market consists of four Military Treatment Facilities (MTFs) to include Tripler Army Medical Center, Naval Health Clinic Hawaii, Desmond T. Doss Health Clinic, and 15th Medical Group. The market serves a population of about 150,000 eligible Military Health System beneficiaries spanning 597 square miles of the third largest Hawaiian island, Oahu.

As part of the 2017 National Defense Authorization Act, the Military Health

System is transitioning the administration and management of all military and hospitals and clinics to DHA. To do so effectively, DHA chose a “market approach,” based on the six Enhanced Multi-Service Markets (eMSMs) already in place, one of which is Hawaii. Markets are groups of hospitals and clinics working together in a geographic area operating as a system to support the sharing of patients, staff, functions, budget, and more across all market facilities.

“Healthcare resource integration is not a new concept for us,” explained Doperak.

“Army, Navy, and Air Force medical services on island began operating as an eMSM in 2013 to oversee the management of healthcare resources in Hawaii. Through this collaboration we learned to focus efforts on both healthcare delivery and individual services’ readiness missions.”

“The establishment of this market is an acknowledgement of your accomplishments,” said Lein. “The medical leaders, the line (unit) leaders, our community and VA partners are working together to ensure the best quality and outcomes for our patients.”

2

The Flagship | www.flagshipnews.com | Section 2 | Thursday, October 28, 2021

Heroes at Home

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Camaraderie never retires

By Lisa Smith Molinari

We made our flight to Dulles Airport, despite annoying run-around after check in. My husband, Francis, and I brought one checked back, which was five pounds too heavy. Unwilling to pay the $100 overweight bag fee, I frantically unloaded books I’d packed for my author event, but it was still over by a half pound. I grabbed the large bottle of Miralax laxative powder that I take every night, and plopped it into my carry on.

“That needs to be tested,” a TSA agent said, pointing to the Miralax in my carry on.

“How embarrassing,” I thought, unaware that my circumstance would get worse. After submitting to the machine that blows a puff while you stand with arms overhead, I was told that the bottle’s contents had been flagged as “suspicious.”

“Female,” an agent said into a walkie-talkie.

I was directed to wait in a secure area.

Francis looked irritated, which irritated me.

“They’re just doing their jobs,” I mouthed to him. If anyone should understand why security procedures are important, it should be Francis, who spent 28 years as a naval intelligence officer, and since retiring four years ago, now works in cyber security for a global bank.

A petite female agent with security gadgets neatly strapped to her uniform appeared minutes later. “Ma’am, this security procedure will require me to touch you,” she began, “do

you have any conditions that cause you pain in any areas of your body?” She thoroughly explained every step while patting down my nooks and crevices three times over.

She signaled to the male agents that I was cleared, but we still had to wait, while they leafed through the pages of every book that was in my carry on, twice over. Are humor books and powdered stool softener a security risk?

Somehow, we made it to my author event at Army Navy Country Club in Arlington, Virginia. By the time we arrived, the Fort Richardson Room was filled with fifty members and guests, sipping drinks and loudly chatting in small groups. The coordinator tapped the podium microphone, “Please take a seat, let me introduce tonight’s speaker…”

I adjusted the folder containing eight stories I’d planned to read, most from past columns I’d written. For some reason, I wasn’t nervous looking out at fifty unfamiliar faces with high expectations to be entertained. Unusually comfortable and confident, I began.

Two paragraphs into my first reading, giggling erupted, washing over me like an invigorating shower. With each story, the crowd laughed more and I mirrored their energy, until I had to pause to let hoots and cackles die down before continuing. In between stories, I freestyled, engaging with the women like old friends.

Francis, seated in the first row, saw opportu-

nities to inject himself and took them, reaching over chairs to high five attendees and shouting additional details like, “Of course we had a tinkle jar in our station wagon — I have three brothers!” By the final reading, women were shouting out, “So true!” and “Been there, done that!” between guffaws, and I laughed at their outbursts.

“My sides hurt,” one hysterical chuckler cried. I joked that I’d pay her to attend all my reading events.

Though I thought the night couldn’t get better, I raced from the podium to the book signing table, where a long, noisy line was forming. Francis was supposed to handle sales, while I autographed books, but he abandoned his post immediately, too busy joking with attendees. In the jovial mayhem, I fumbled to autograph each book with personal details.

“Are you a military spouse?” I’d ask, and found that most were either “retired” military spouses like me, or men and women who’d served many years on active duty. “From one milspouse to another … keep laughing!” I scribbled inside many books that night.

Before going to bed, I mixed a glassful of the Miralax that nearly sabotaged my event. Gulping it down, I realized that those fun-loving strangers were my people. We share a common life story, we speak the same language, and no matter how old we get, we are part of a community that will never retire.

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For Veterans: All the Benefits of Home

By Military Onesource You saw your share of moving in the military. Now, as a veteran, maybe you’re thinking about settling down. Thanks to your service, you’ve earned good benefits on the home front. Check out these loan and assistance programs as you make a place for yourself in the civilian world.

Your final move in the military Most service members transitioning out have one year to complete a final military move at government expense. Plan early and visit your installation’s relocation support offices as you organize your move. Find comprehensive moving information on the Military OneSource PCS & Military Moves page.

VA Home Loans: Helping you to become a homeowner The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs offers substantial help with home buying. You don’t have to be a first-time homebuyer to take advantage of VA Home Loans.

• Purchase a home at a competitive interest rate with a Purchase Loan, often without requiring a down payment or mortgage insurance.

• Cash-Out Refinance Loans are for homeowners who want to take cash out of their home equity to take care of things like paying off debt, funding school or making home improvements.

• Obtain a lower interest rate with the Interest Rate Reduction Refinance Loan.

• Eligible Native American veterans may be able to participate in the Native American Direct Loan Program to finance the purchase, construction or improvement of homes on Federal Trust Land.

• Veterans with a permanent and total service-connected disability can get help purchasing or building an adapted home with an Adapted Housing Grant. The grant can also go toward modifying an existing home.

The VA also has good information, tools

FUNCTIONS AND/OR SERVICES FFSC PROVIDES:

(COURTESY PHOTO)

and assistance to help smooth your way to a new home. Make sure you read over the eligibility requirements to determine what benefits you can receive.

Premier Retirement Communities: Armed Forces Retirement Homes If you’re over 60 and had 20 or more years of active service, you might want to check into Armed Forces Retirement Homes. AFRH currently has two communities — in Gulfport, Miss., and Washington, D.C. Contact them to see if you can apply.

Additional Resources for Housing Assistance • National Resource Directory: When you decide on a location for your new home, you can always check the VA’s National Resource Directory for more location-specific housing assistance.

• U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development: The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development also sponsors housing counseling agencies throughout the country that can provide advice on anything from buying a home to foreclosures and credit

issues.

• Having difficulty? Late payments can happen. Don’t beat yourself up — instead, address it. Your community is here to help.

• Military OneSource offers financial counseling for retirees and those service members discharged under honorable or general under honorable conditions for up to 365 days after their retirement date, End-of-Tour date or discharge date.

• Visit the VA website for information on what to do when payments can’t be made or financial troubles arise.

• The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development also provides resources on avoiding foreclosure.

• If you or someone you know is at risk of homelessness, contact your local VA medical center; call 877-4AID-VET (877-424-3838); or visit va.gov/homeless. VA can connect you with resources to get you back on your feet.

• You don’t have to go through life’s hardships alone. Your military community can help get you, your loved ones or friends you care about through the trying times.

www.flagshipnews.com | The Flagship | Section 2 | Thursday, October 28, 2021 3

Capt. Marc Ratkus, commanding officer, Center for Information Warfare Training, addressed the chief petty officer selectees at Information Warfare Training Command San Diego during his visit Oct. 20. (CENTER FOR INFORMATION WARFARE )

CIWT Commander Makes First Visit to IWTC San Diego

By Lt. Kristoffer Abonal

Center For Information Warfare Training Public Affairs

SAN DIEGO — On Oct. 20, Capt. Marc Ratkus, commanding officer, Center for Information Warfare Training (CIWT), made his first visit to Information Warfare Training Command San Diego (IWTC SD) since taking command in July 2020.

During his visit, Ratkus met with IWTC SD staff, visited various training courses, spoke

with chief petty officer selectees, and received scenario briefings on the Intelligence Team Trainer, which supports training for deploying Carrier Strike Group and Amphibious Readiness Group personnel through their pre-deployment cycle.

“The wide spectrum of training operations at IWTC SD adds tremendous value not only to the information warfare community, but also to our nation,” said Ratkus. “It requires hard work and diligence to effectively prepare our warfighters to become a part of the Navy

our nation needs. The IWTC SD team does a remarkable job continuously delivering highly trained Information Warfare professionals to the fleet.”

While touring IWTC SD classrooms, Ratkus had an opportunity to talk with and address students and staff in electronic warfare, intelligence, and course supervisor classes. While speaking with course supervisor students, Ratkus surprised Chief Petty Officer Dinorath Lopez with the announcement of her selection to receive the Vice Adm. Rufus L. Taylor Award

for Excellence in Intelligence Instruction.

“It was a pleasure to host Captain Ratkus, show him some of our command’s initiatives, introduce him to some of our remarkable instructors and staff, and exchange ideas about how to best enable America’s maritime fighting forces to sustain a competitive advantage in the Information Warfare battlespace,” said Cmdr. Tim Raymie, commanding officer, IWTC SD. “His storied and diverse career experience give him the breadth of knowledge and perspective needed to help shape our training to better support the Information Warfare Community. It is truly an honor to work with him.”

IWTC San Diego, as part of the Center for Information Warfare Training, provides a continuum of training to Navy and joint service personnel that prepares them to conduct information warfare across the full spectrum of military operations.

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4 The Flagship | www.flagshipnews.com | Section 2 | Thursday, October 28, 2021

NPS graduate ret. Adm. Guillermo Barrera utilized his education in electrical and electronics engineering throughout his career in the Colombian Navy, culminating in his service has Chief of Naval Operations from 2006-2010. (MC2 JAMES NORKET)

Former Colombian CNO and NPS Grad Returns to Monterey

By Matthew Schehl

Naval Postgraduate School Public Affairs

In the Fall of 1981, a young Colombian naval officer arrived in Monterey, Calif. to begin his studies at the Naval Postgraduate School (NPS). Exactly 40 years and an absolutely stellar career later, retired Adm. Guillermo Barrera had the opportunity to return to the esteemed university as a visiting subject matter expert from the Naval War College, and he reflected on the impact NPS has had on his life.

Barrera’s career in the Colombian Navy spanned four decades. As Commander of the Colombian Navy from 2006 through 2010, he was part of the governmental team under President Álvaro Uribe that led the country from the brink of failure into an era of stability and prosperity.

Commissioned as a Surface Warfare Officer in 1971, Barrera also served as the Commander of the Colombian Coast Guard, Commander of the nation’s Caribbean Naval Forces as well as Chief of Naval Operations of the Colombian Navy before becoming the Commander of the Colom-

bian Navy.

Barrera retired in 2011 and became a Distinguished International Fellow at the U.S. Naval War College, where he graduated in 1993. He teaches Political Warfare and supports the main curricula and the colleges of Leadership and Ethics and Maritime Warfare Operations.

Today, he considers his time at NPS critical to his success as an O-3 to an O-5.

“NPS gave me the opportunity to be several steps ahead compared with the rest of my mates in the Colombian Navy, in the sense that it provided me with many clear concepts that we didn’t have in Colombia, especially regarding the different disciplines of engineering,” Barrera said. “Coming to NPS was a fantastic experience, not just for me but for many other Colombian naval officers who came here and would go on to become commanders, flag officers and Commanders of the Navy.”

Barrera received his NPS master’s in Electrical and Electronics Engineering in 1983 after completing his thesis work in digital controls for hard drive systems, cutting-edge at the time.

“It was future technology! We never imagined the capabilities and capacity that we have today; it was beyond our imagination,” he stressed. “NPS gave me a technologically-broader picture of the world. This proved quite important, especially in recognizing new technology that will be needed in the near future.”

“It’s important to keep an open mind to this; defining the technology correctly in order to apply it to solve specific problems,” he added. “I learned this here at NPS and it allowed me to be more successful.”

Equally invaluable were the connections and friendships Barrera forged at the university which became pivotal throughout his career, enduring relationships which continue to this day.

Fellow Colombian naval officers who attended NPS would also go on to become flag officers and commanders of the Navy, forming a tight-knit, synergistic group who directly applied their knowledge gained here to the full spectrum of naval operations.

“NPS allowed us to be one step ahead of the curve when it came to technology,” Barrera said. “These were people who were

able to transform how we did business.”

For example, designing and building the Colombian submarine fleet in the 1970s was made possible through know-how gained at NPS, as was its sustainment. They remain in pristine condition today on active duty. Likewise with Colombian frigates which entered service in the 1980s.

“So that, I would say, is a strong partnership,” he said.

The strength of this bond reverberates across the Caribbean to within our own shores.

As their careers progressed, their American NPS classmates also rose in rank and responsibility within their respective services. These connections proved invaluable as the Colombian Navy took on the challenges presented by transnational criminal organizations, narco-trafficking, trafficking of human beings, and waves of human migration.

“These things affect my country, but they’re not only in Colombia,” Barrera said.

“They start and end in other countries. This means that the solution is international and that we have to work together with all those affected.”

“If I have a part of the problem, I also have a part of the solution,” he continued.

“Working together, we’ll solve these problems together.”

Working with his American colleagues was a “fantastic trust-building partnership experience, and it’s still there,” Barrera said.

“Everything in my case started here at NPS.”

Breast Cancer Screening Saves Lives Through Early Detection

By David Marks

Naval Hospital Twentynine Palms Public Affairs

It’s Breast Health Awareness Month.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), breast cancer follows skin cancer as the most common cancer among American women. Also, according to the CDC, mammograms are the most effective way to catch breast cancer early, “when it is easier to treat and before it is big enough to feel or cause symptoms.”

Ms. Domife (“Mimi”) Valdueza is Naval Hospital Twentynine Palms’ Breast Health Coordinator. Ms. Valdueza earned her registered nursing degree in the Philippines and in the U.S. she earned her RN license, her publichealth-nurse license and case-manager certification. Ms. Valdueza provided emailed responses to the following questions: What is your best advice for a woman regarding breast health?

Stay healthy by maintaining a balanced diet with plenty of green, leafy vegetables; limit your amount of drinking (alcohol); be physically active; quit smoking and get routine breast screening (breast self-exams, clinical breast exams and mammograms). Women should also be aware of the symptoms of breast cancer and breast cancer risks.

Early detection of the breast cancer can provide early treatment for the service member and or their beneficiaries. For those women diagnosed with localized (Stage 1) breast cancer there is a more than 98 percent probability that they will survive five or more years. (L.A. SHIVLEY)

How does a woman’s age affect how she should approach breast health?

Most breast cancers are found in women who are age 50 and older. As we age, women’s breast cells are constantly changing and growing, mainly due to the activity of female hormones. Although, young women can also be at increased risk for breast cancer. High-risk patients should ask their primary-care provider if they can start early mammograms before age

40. In general, woman should start screening with mammograms at age 40 and older.

What are the consequences of ignoring breast health?

A woman may not know she has breast cancer until it’s in the late stage. If breast cancer is found at a late stage, it may be too late for effective treatment. Then it will be fatal. It’s better to detect breast cancer at an early stage, it’s easier to treat and they will have a good chance at a

full recovery.

Why should a woman not solely rely on self-exams?

Some cancers may not be found by doing breast self-exams but could be found through mammography imaging or during clinical breast exams.

According to the CDC, about 255,000 women in the U.S. get breast cancer annually and 42,000 women die from the disease.

www.flagshipnews.com | The Flagship | Section 2 | Thursday, October 28, 2021 5

Anna Lizana, NAS Pensacola area forester, Michael Hardy, NAS Pensacola natural resources manager, and Paige Wiebe, Student Conservation Association (SCA) intern, examine a gopher tortoise habitat onboard NAS Pensacola Oct. 13. NAS Pensacola participates in gopher tortoise conservation efforts, led by the Environmental Division of the installation’s Public Works Department.

(COURTESY PHOTO)

NAVWAR Executive Director Speaks at SDMAC Economic Impact Study Event

By Elisha Gamboa

Naval Information Warfare Systems Command Public Affairs

Naval Information Warfare Systems Command (NAVWAR) Executive Director John Pope joined government, military, and industry leaders from across the region in a panel to discuss the San Diego Military Advisory Council’s (SDMAC) newly released economic impact study, Oct. 20, at the Admiral Kidd Conference Center in San Diego.

SDMAC commissions an annual economic impact study to demonstrate the significant benefits of defense-related spending and military presence in the San Diego region. During the event, Pope highlighted NAVWAR as one of the Navy’s major acquisition commands with an expertise in information warfare technology and its substantial economic impact during fiscal year (FY) 2020.

NAVWAR influences San Diego’s economy through seven channels including: contracts awarded to regional businesses,

command employees, operations and maintenance spending, command-related tourism, patents, government purchase card payments, and contributions in the fields of science, technology, engineering and mathematics.

In FY 2020, NAVWAR contributed more than 29,000 jobs throughout the San Diego region and directly employed more than 5,600 people, with about 270 military workers and 5,300 civilian employees.

Their combined compensation, including wages and benefits, totaled more than $900 million. Of these employees, many are highly educated with more than four-fifths of them holding at least a four-year college degree, and about two-fifths holding Master’s or Doctorate degrees.

“We have a long history with San Diego, as the region has been a strong partner in executing our mission of delivering and sustaining information warfare capabilities for the fleet and our partners around the world,” said Pope. “This relationship is ideal for both the region and the command. With

nearly half of our workforce positioned in the San Diego area, we are able to leverage many of the region’s unique advantages including its close proximity to operational forces, training ranges, high-tech industry and world-class universities.”

This mutually beneficial relationship can be demonstrated by the Navy Old Town Campus Revitalization Project, in which the Navy is working alongside supporting partners and advocates throughout the San Diego region to provide the command with new, modern and secure facilities to support its rapidly expanding, critical cybersecurity mission.

“Our mission is growing with an ever-increasing focus on speed and agility to field capabilities faster to pace our adversaries and maintain advantage in the information domain,” said Pope.

This potential redevelopment would bring tremendous economic benefits to the region through the construction and operation of new commercial, military, residential and transportation facilities.

Another example of partnerships within

the region is NAVWAR’s continued involvement with the San Diego Cyber Center of Excellence (CCOE), demonstrating the command’s strong commitment and contribution to cybersecurity, as well as the importance of partnering with industry to better support the mission. NAVWAR is working alongside the CCOE on a number of initiatives to strengthen the diversity and inclusivity in the cyber talent pipeline, including CyberHireSD and the Underrepresented in Cybersecurity Apprenticeship Program.

San Diego is home to more than 870 cyber firms and 12,400 cyber professionals that generate an annual economic impact of $3.5 billion, a 15% increase since a 2019 cyber industry study. NAVWAR directly employs a third of all cybersecurity workers in San Diego and its presence is a contributing factor for many cyber companies to remain located in the region.

Moving forward, NAVWAR will continue to partner with the city of San Diego, and support SDMAC’s mission of facilitating and advancing the partnership between the military, elected officials, civic leaders and the business community to enhance the understanding of the military’s many contributions to the San Diego region.

About NAVWAR: NAVWAR identifies, develops, delivers and sustains information warfighting capabilities and services that enable naval, joint, coalition and other national missions operating in warfighting domains from seabed to space.

NAVWAR consists of more than 11,000 active duty military and civil service professionals located around the world.

Third phase awarded for NSB Kings Bay Dry Dock Recapitalization Project

By Susan Brink

Naval Facilities Engineering Systems Command Southeast Public Affairs

Naval Facilities Engineering Systems Command (NAVFAC) Southeast awarded a $41.2 million modification on Oct. 14 to Alberici-Mortenson, Joint Venture (JV) from St. Louis, Missouri, to exercise the third through ninth options for the recapitalization dry dock project at Naval Submarine Base (NSB) Kings Bay, Georgia.

This award funds the third phase (Phase C) of the project and raises the total cumulative contract value to $605.9 million.

“Phase C is the culmination of the three year project to overhaul the Kings Bay Dry Dock,” said Resident Officer in Charge of Construction (ROICC) Trident Cmdr.

Marcel Duplantier. “While we still have lots of work left in Phase B, getting Phase C awarded now allows us to plan and prepare for the final work required to get the dock back to full mission capability for the Trident Refit Facility (TRF) at Kings Bay.” Similar to this modification, the second phase (Phase B) of the project was also awarded early back on Jan. 8 and didn’t officially begin until July 14. Phase B is expected to be completed by October 2022.

The scope of Phase C involves repairs to the ancillary facilities around the dry dock that support TRF maintenance.

Activities during this phase will include concrete repairs to the utility and auxil-

Work continues for the second phase (Phase B) of the Naval Submarine Base (NSB) Kings Bay Dry Dock Recapitalization Project, which is scheduled to be completed by Oct. 2022. (JEFFERY HAMLIN)

iary tunnels; concrete repairs inside pump station; repairs to roof drainage system; roof replacement of various support buildings; floor drainage pump replacements;

replacement of various original equipment in the utility service building; and replacement of various systems (mechanical, electrical, fire) in seven support buildings.

Phase C is expected to be finished by July 2023 and will mark the completion of the NSB Kings Bay Dry Dock Recapitalization Project.

6 The Flagship | www.flagshipnews.com | Section 2 | Thursday, October 28, 2021

David Steckler (left) was officially awarded Naval Facilities Engineering Systems Command (NAVFAC) Washington Environmental Restoration Employee of the Year by NAVFAC Washington Commanding Officer, Capt. Eric J. Hawn (right). (MATTHEW STINSON)

NAVFAC Washington Selects Environmental Restoration Employee of the Year

By Matthew Stinson

Naval Facilities Engineering Command Washington

David Steckler was named Naval Facilities Engineering Systems Command (NAVFAC) Washington Environmental Restoration Employee of the Year. He made a significant contribution to the Navy Environmental Restoration Program during 2020 in his role as the Remedial Project Manager for the Naval Air Station (NAS) Patuxent River, Webster Field, and the former Bayhead Road

Annex (BHRA).

At NAS Patuxent River and Webster Field, Steckler oversaw the completion of per-and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS)-focused preliminary assessments (PAs) and site inspections on expedited schedules in response to heightened public concern over the possible presence of these chemicals in environmental media around the bases. At the conclusion of the PA, he coordinated and executed a well-attended public information session regarding PFAS that included repre-

sentatives from NAVFAC, Navy and Marine Corps Public Health Center (NMCPHC), Maryland Department of the Environment (MDE), U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA), and the St. Mary’s County Department of Environmental Health. In addition, he provided two well-received PFAS briefs to the St. Mary’s County Commission.

At the former BHRA, Steckler oversaw the completion of one of the first PFAS remedial investigations (RI). Then, in anticipation of

public interest regarding the RI report, he managed a second multi-agency effort to build a public website for BHRA. The website went from concept to publication in under 30 days, drafting much of the text himself.

“PFAS is rapidly gaining regulatory and public attention,” said Robert Williams, NAVFAC Washington environmental business line leader. “We are lucky to have David leading our PFAS efforts for these sites.”

Steckler demonstrated leadership, managing his two partnering teams, despite the COVID-19 pandemic. The NAS Patuxent River team in particular had a number of successes including charting a path to no-further-action at a site where the USEPA had been indicating that an action is warranted.

In addition, David successfully managed his teams’ transition to virtual meetings, while keeping their productivity high.

With a positive attitude and a focus on restoring the environment in a scientifically defensible, resource conscious manner, David embodies the SeaBees motto: “Can Do!”

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www.flagshipnews.com | The Flagship | Section 2 | Thursday, October 28, 2021 7

NAVFAC Washington Awards Contract to Replace Windows at Naval Research Laboratory

By Matthew Stinson

(GRAPHIC COURTESY)

WASHINGTON - Naval Facilities Engineering Systems Command (NAVFAC) Washington has awarded a $1,134,224 firm-fixed price contract to Biscayne

Contractors, Inc., a small business based in Alexandria, Va., to replace windows at Naval Research Laboratory in Washington, D.C. The work to be performed includes, but is not limited to, removal and replacement of the existing windows on the entire east

Naval Facilities Engineering Command Washington Public Affairs

NAS Pensacola from Page 1

to four years,” Wiebe said. “The surveys collect data on the gopher tortoise populations by determining the number of active burrows within suitable habitat areas, which is done based on visual appearance and depth measurement of each burrow.”

Conservation of the gopher tortoise is important because it is a keystone species, meaning their absence would have a profoundly negative impact on the surrounding habitat and the many species who rely on their burrows for shelter, said Michael Hardy, NAS Pensacola natural resources manager, Public Works Department, Environmental Division.

“If their populations continue to decline in Florida, they may become a federally listed threatened species under the Endangered Species Act, which would negatively impact the military mission by potentially adding additional regulations and restrictions on military lands,” Wiebe said.

The gopher tortoise population onboard NAS Pensacola is in a protected area of the base near

the airfield.

“The general public does not have access to the area and predators are reduced as the entire area is fenced off,” Wiebe added.

Hardy said the Public Works Department is continually participating in projects that will result in the expansion and conservation of the Gopher tortoise population on the installation.

The department plans to clear a portion of a wooded area on the installation soon to create space for an additional gopher tortoise habitat.

Wiebe said the Environmental Division team takes pride in the work they accomplish to conserve and protect the gopher tortoise population on the installation.

“Participating in gopher tortoise conservation gives us a feeling of fulfillment since we know our work helping the gopher tortoise also helps restore and preserve native ecosystems of the southeast while protecting other threatened species that depend on these ecosystems and the gopher tortoise burrows,” Wiebe said. “It feels like you are really making a measurable difference which is huge, even if it is on a small scale.”

The Environmental Division team said base personnel should avoid areas inhabited by the gopher tortoise — both the tortoise and its

facade of Building 43, approximately half of the windows of the south elevation, including the stair tower, and select windows on the north elevation. The $1,134,224 contract includes the base bid to replace windows, as well as an option to remove and

replace all entry doors and canopy above entry doors.

The contract was awarded on September 27, 2021. All work will be performed in Washington, D.C., and is expected to be completed by October 2022.

Birthday from Page 1

John Pope, right, Executive Director, Naval Information Warfare Systems Command discusses NAVWAR’s contribution to the local economy during a panel discussion at the San Diego Military Advisory Council’s Economic Impact Study rollout event. Also pictured is Governor’s Military Council Member Vice Adm. Jody Breckenridge, U.S. Coast Guard (Ret.). (RICK NAYSTATT)

burrow are protected under Florida state law. *Data from past NAS Pensacola gopher tortoise surveys, and information from the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission and American Forestry Foundation was used to produce this article.

To learn more about NHHC’s loan program, visit https://www.history.navy. mil/get-involved/loan-programs.html.

NHHC, located at the Washington Navy Yard, is responsible for the preservation, analysis, and dissemination of U.S. naval history and heritage. It provides the knowledge foundation for the Navy by maintaining historically relevant resources and products that reflect the Navy’s unique and enduring contributions through our nation’s history, and supports the fleet by assisting with and delivering professional research, analysis, and interpretive services.

NHHC is composed of many activities including the Navy Department Library, the Navy Operational Archives, the Navy art and artifact collections, underwater archeology, Navy histories, ten museums, USS Constitution repair facility and the historic ship Nautilus.

For more news from NHHC, visit www. history.navy.mil.

8 The Flagship | www.flagshipnews.com | Section 2 | Thursday, October 28, 2021

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www.flagshipnews.com | The Flagship | Section 3 | Thursday, October 28, 2021 1

Game Day Food Settling in for an afternoon of gridiron action calls for football food from dips and appetizers to full-blown feasts. PAGE C4

DISNEY ON ICE PRESENTS

MICKEY AND FRIENDS AT THE HAMPTON COLISEUM

(Courtesy of Disney on Ice)

Interview Conducted By Yiorgo Come and experience the joy of those young and those young at heart whose love for everything Disney never gets old. Witness many of your favorite Disney characters come to life as Disney On Ice presents Mickey and Friends starting November fourth and running through November 7th at the Hampton Coliseum.

Go to https://www.hamptoncoliseum.org/ events/detail/disney-on-ice-presents-mickeyand-friends Yiorgo: With us is Kaitlyn Mahan, one of the live hosts of Disney On Ice. What is your role in this production?

Kaitlyn Mahan: As one of the live hosts of the show, I am live-miked along with my co-hosts and we are on the ice transitioning the show from story to story, welcoming all of our audience members and guests to the show and encouraging them to have fun with it and enjoy themselves. We help to make the magic and make the show happen. Even though I am a figure skater, for the needs of this particular show, I am in shoes walking on the ice and I get to be up close and personal with Mickey and Minnie and go with them into the different segments that we are presenting.

Y: Why should people come and see this particular show?

KM: They should come because everyone needs to be able to escape into the magic that is

Disney. For us as performers, we are so excited to bring Disney On Ice to cities again. It is a special treat for us to be back in a job that we love so much. What makes this show particularly special is that we get to go through several Disney movies and meet several of the Disney

Kaitlyn Mahan. (COURTESY OF DISNEY ON ICE)

characters that people have fallen in love with over the years.

Two things that are really special about this particular show that’s not in any of the other shows is that Mickey is going to make brooms come alive and it’s really intricate and very well-choreographed and one of my favorite

segments to watch. You get to see some really great acts like the Little Mermaid and Rapunzel, they are always so thrilling. Another great moment is when Pixar’s inside out characters come out, the emotions, they make an appearance too, they always make me laugh every day.

I turn around and it’s like they popped right out of the movie for everyone to see. It’s really just a big party if I am honest.

Y: Where were you born and how did you fall in love with ice skating?

KM: I was born in Lake Forest, Illinois. I am from a Navy family and my father was deployed on the Eisenhower. We spent a lot of time between Lake Forest and Jacksonville, Florida.

I have been skating since I was three years old and I really can’t remember a time that I have not had skates on my feet. After competing, I was falling out of love with skating by the time I was a senior in high school and it was my mom who was a skater herself, she actually told me that I could go and join the ice show for a year or two while I figured out what I wanted to do for school. Well, 12 years and a pandemic later, I am still here.

Y: Were you a Disney fan growing up?

KM: I have always genuinely loved the Disney brand because my father was a huge fan of the animation growing up and he passed on that love to me. I am a big fan of the characters and storylines. So I listened to my mom and two weeks after I had graduated from high school,

I was in Mexico City in a Disney On Ice show that summer in the ensemble. It was my first time flying by myself and to an international country on top of that so it was a bit of a cultural shock being in the ice culture world. I had to grow up and become an adult on the ice show.

This has given me more of a worldly view by now. Also, I did go back to school, and got my associate’s degree this past spring and I am an online student at the University of Florida working towards a bachelor’s degree in hospitality, tourism and event management.

Y: What do you want to do with your degree?

KM: I love the behind the scenes of the Ice shows but I am also leaning towards the type of events that help promote the shows and the creativity that goes into pulling all that together.

I’ve always been intrigued by the tourist industry.

Y: The beauty of a live show is that anything can happen or go wrong. Any anecdotes to share?

KM: In my latest venture as a live-miked host, sometimes you have technical glitches or delays. The season before the pandemic, one of my co-hosts and I, we always had massive amounts of Disney trivia prep and as a Disney lover, it always surprised me how I would stomp him with questions and answers even though Turn to Disney, Page 3

VCW returns to Norfolk on Nov. 6th with former WWE Superstar JTG of Cryme Tyme

By The 757 Heater

Virginia Championship Wrestling has been the talk of the town since returning to action this summer. Their next event emanates from the Norfolk Masonic Temple on Saturday night November 6th. Doors open at 6:30 PM, and bell time is scheduled for 7:30 PM. Tickets can be purchased online in advance at vcwprowrestling.com. If VCW’s last event was any indication, you’ll absolutely want to reserve your seats ahead of time. July’s Liberty Lottery packed roughly five hundred rabid fans into the Norfolk Masonic Temple. It was evident by the crowd’s enthusiasm just how much they missed the promotion during the first year of the global pandemic.

The featured special guest is JTG, formerly of the WWE tag team known as Cryme Tyme. Not only will fans have the opportunity to meet and greet JTG but they will see him in action later that night.

Recently, JTG has been undergoing a career resurgence on both the independent pro wrestling scene and as a member of the NWA (National Wrestling Alliance) roster.

He’s been making waves by having some of the best matches of his career against a variety of opponents. On November 6th, he steps into the ring with someone VCW fans haven’t seen in a very long time. Logan Easton Laroux, the self-professed “Cham-

pion of the 1%”, is a former VCW Tag Team Champion that hasn’t competed in Norfolk in nearly six years. Although he’s been on a hiatus from competition in Virginia, Laroux has been more active than ever in the ring.

His matches up and down the east coast have resulted in recognition as one of the best unsigned talents in the industry today.

This bout is certain to take the audience’s collective breath away. Whoever walks out with the victory is certainly going to be considered a top contender.

A new undisputed Virginia Heavyweight Champion was crowned in July, as “Mr. Xcellence” Brandon Scott walked out of Norfolk carrying two championship belts.

Not bad considering he had zero at the start of the evening. The way he went about obtaining these titles has left some room for debate. Virginia pro wrestling legend and veteran of nineteen tours of Japan, Mark Fleming, was meant to simply present the winner of the bout with the richest prize in the Commonwealth. Instead, Fleming took it upon himself to distract the referee long enough for Brandon Scott to steal the victory from his opponents Gino Medina and Jordan Oliver. Fans have been left wondering for months why a decorated wrestler’s wrestler like Fleming would perpetrate such a crime. In preparation for this article, I reached out to Mr. Fleming for a statement. Unfortunately, his response was “no comment.” Well hopefully, we’ll

Greek God Papadon (L), shown here with the upper hand against Phil Brown (R) at a 2018 VCW event. (COURTESY PHOTO)

all get an answer on November 6th. VCW Director of Operations Jerry Stephanitsis has declared that Brandon Scott’s contributions to VCW will be celebrated in the Loulies Lounge. “A Decade of Xcellence” is scheduled to feature a special presentation from Stephanitsis, as well as an interview with Mark Fleming to explain why he did what he did. Loulies Lounge will be hosted by “The Big 44” Tim Loulies and sponsored

by the Virginia Beach Funny Bone. Furthermore, Stephanitsis says that the new champion deserves the night off in honor of all that he has done for VCW. There’s certain to be a lot of high-fiving and back-patting in this one. It makes one wonder if we will get any answers after all.

VCW United States Liberty Champion Turn to VCW, Page 3

INSIDE: Check out Flagship Values, your source for automobiles, employment, real estate and more! Pages C6-7

2

The Flagship | www.flagshipnews.com | Section 3 | Thursday, October 28, 2021

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Shen Yun brings 5,000 years of ancient Chinese culture and dance to Chrysler Hall Interview Conducted By Yiorgo To all of us who love ancient Chinese culture, dance and music, be prepared to be transported back in time November 5th and 6th at Chrysler Hall. Shen Yun brings to life the rich history of ancient China with a breathtaking combination of dance perfection, visually stunning costumes, high-tech backdrops and original orchestra compositions.

For more info, go to https://www.sevenvenues.com/events/detail/shen-yun-7 With us today is Dong Xiang, who believes so much in the mission of Shen Yun that he became the local volunteer promoter and helps organize the local volunteers to work together and promote Shen Yun. Mr. Xiang is not employed by Shen Yun. Yiorgo: What should people expect to see when they come to a Shen Yun performance?

Dong Xiang: With the pandemic, it is very difficult to travel to China, so we bring the traditional Chinese culture to your doorstep. It is a very fast paced, two and half hour show, with 20 short, different programs, learning and experiencing Chinese culture and history. It’s like time travel. It is definitely something that the people have not seen before. They will see a very, very expressive, very challenging, classical Chinese dancing filled with spinning, jumping, forward and backward flips. It is almost like martial arts but actually martial arts came from Chinese dances. It’s very interesting that in China the word for dance is pronounced “wu” and the martial arts word is also pronounced “wu” so it is exactly the same pronunciation but the writing is different. In the old days, the warriors would use martial arts on the battlefield but in the Imperial palace the warriors used martial arts as a way of entertaining the emperor and the guests. So it’s almost like classical Chinese dance and martial arts are two sides of the same coin.

The incorporation of the high tech backdrop and the Chinese dancing is so unique that it was patented in the US a few years ago.

It feels like you have a large screen TV with animation in the background, with the dancers performing in front of it and interacting with it. It feels like the characters are jumping in and out of the background enhancing the very expressive way of telling a story.

Every year they come up with a different program so even if you have seen a Shen

(COURTESY PHOTO)

Yun performance before, this show is totally different. Also, do not be late to the show because when the curtain opens with the first program, it is designed to have a lot of wow, wow, and breathtaking moments.

Y: Talk to us about the dancers, musicians and the costumes in the show.

DX: There are close to 40 dancers, 40 musicians and a handful of a production crew.

There are six touring companies. Everything in Shen Yun is original. The artists train and meditate in a secluded, peaceful area in upstate New York, adhering to old traditions of purifying themselves and preparing themselves to perfectly perform the dancing and music.

The costumes are of course influenced and based on the 5000 year old programs being presented. They are handmade and in order to ensure that the color matches the feel and mood of the particular story being performed, they mix and custom make their own colors because they cannot buy the colors they need.

The music that you hear are all original compositions, composed by the Shen Yun conductor. The music is performed live by an orchestra that also includes the Chinese musical instruments: erhu and pipa. This is not an easy thing to do, to include these Chinese instruments. It is like trying to mix oil and water together, it’s close to impossible because the pitch and the tone of these instruments are very different from the western instruments. The Shen Yun orchestra is able to mix them together. The performances are not just a feast to your eyes but also music to your ears.

Y: Where are you from and how did you get involved as the local promoter for Shen Yun? DX: I was born in 1969 and grew up in China under Communist rule where I was raised like all of us in our generation to believe in Communism. That’s totally different from what my parents and grandparents believed in. When I came to the United States I realized that my Chinese culture is so different from what I was familiar with when I grew up. A lot of us are ex-patriots from China. We want to tell the world how China was before Communism took over. This has

motivated a lot of Shen Yun artists to dedicate their lives and technical skills to present the show. It also empowered people like me who are not artists to help and promote the show. We, the promoters of the show, are all volunteers, not only do we not get paid to promote Shen Yun but we contribute a small portion of our personal wealth to make sure that Shen Yun has enough resources to send the message out. We have a shoestring budget but we have a lot of volunteers and that is why we are able to promote it in Norfolk.

I am the Executive Director of the Falun Gong Association in Washington DC and we present Shen Yun in the Virginia, Maryland and Washington DC areas. Shen Yun was founded in 2006 and their mission is to restore and showcase the traditional Chinese culture to honor on the stage through classical Chinese dance. The mission is in line with what we believe in the Falun Gong Association. As we know, China has a five thousand year old history and we want to present the Chinese before Communism. The traditional Chinese culture is so different then the contemporary Chinese culture that alot of people are not familiar with and sadly even many Chinese people don’t know it. I am a perfect example.

Y: What has been a favorite moment of yours with the show?

DX: There is also another very unique aspect of the show and none of the other performing arts have it. It’s Show Energy.

A few years ago, I presented a show in West Virginia, and there was a lady sitting near the front who came to see the show by herself. She was very excited and clapped at everything, sometimes too much. When the show finished, we filmed collecting some feedback from the audience and I was very moved by her comments in her video clip. She said that she was in her 70’s and had pain all the time. She stopped taking the pain-killing medicine because it did not work, but she said, trying to hold back her tears, that when she was watching the show, for the entire two and a half hours, she did not feel any pain. I was not surprised because I know the power of Shen Yun. In the old days, the Chinese people

Dong Xiang. (COURTESY PHOTO)

believed that dancing is not for entertainment for human beings. In ancient times, artists believed that dancing was a gift from heaven. The artists would cultivate their inner purity and beauty so they can purify themselves, have high morals, and perform the art beautifully and show their gratitude to heaven. In the old days, artists lived in very secluded, temple settings, not interacting with everyday people and they constantly practiced their skill sets and sharpened their minds. Today they practice the same noble task. When they perform on the stage, the power of meditation is such that they can radiate energy directly to the audience and that is why the woman felt no pain. That is something that is very unique about Shen Yun and no other performing art group can do that.

Yiorgo is an arts, entertainment and sports writer. A stage, TV and movie actor, he is also a sports entertainer, educator, motivational speaker, writer, storyteller and columnist.

Colonial Williamsburg’s American Indian Initiative Takes Center Stage During November’s Native American Heritage Month From Colonial Williamsburg WILLIAMSBURG, Va. — This November, celebrate National Native American Heritage Month with Colonial Williamsburg’s American Indian Initiative. The month will include two livestream events and a series of special performances showcasing the diversity of American Indian experiences in 18th-century Williamsburg in addition to the American Indian Initiative’s ongoing research, programming, demonstrations, and interpretation in Colonial Williamsburg’s historic area and art museums.

“Too many people just don’t know that American Indian programming exists at Colonial Williamsburg,” said Martin Saniga, Supervisor of Colonial Williamsburg’s American Indian Initiative, and a member of the Sappony Tribe.

“That needs to change. We have this incredible opportunity to tell stories about the 18th century that no one else can tell.”

American Indians were a political and economic force in 18th-century Williamsburg, Virginia. While most did not live in the city, they came to trade, to negotiate, and to study at the Brafferton, a school for Native Americans at William & Mary. Because various tribes converged in the city for diverse purposes, Colonial Williamsburg has the unique opportunity to offer a broad range of content related to 18th-century Native American life.

“Most of us are fairly comfortable thinking about the founding of our nation through the eyes of George Washington or Thomas Jefferson,” said Beth Kelly, vice president of Education, Research and Historical Interpretation at Colonial Williamsburg. “But what happens

when we start to think about this pivotal time in our country’s history through the eyes of American Indian people? How does that broaden and enrich the stories we tell our children and our grandchildren, or the stories they tell us?”

Efforts to include the experiences and perspectives of American Indians in the larger narrative of life in 18th-century Williamsburg can be seen throughout Colonial Williamsburg’s campus. Currently on display at Colonial Williamsburg’s Abby Aldrich Rockefeller Folk Art Museum is Navajo Weavings: Adapting Tradition, an exhibition of brilliantly colored, boldly designed pictorial blankets and rugs crafted by Navajo women on hand looms. Additionally, The Colonial Williamsburg Foundation has recently renewed its partnership with the Omohundro Institute (OI), the nation’s leading academic center of historical research on all aspects of early America.

The American Indian Initiative is a relatively new initiative for the nearly 100-year-old foundation. Established with a grant from the Rockefeller Foundation in 2002, the interpretive initiative was designed to give a voice to the untold stories of the native people of eastern North America. Since its inception, the American Indian initiative has hosted panel discussions and lecture series, renewed relationships with American Indian descendant communities, facilitated community discussions, and created numerous programs featuring the histories of 18th-century American Indians.

The program is currently seeking additional staff members to help grow this initiative.

These full-time interpreter positions are filled by 21st-century American Indians from around

Colonial Williamsburg’s American Indian Initiative explores the lives and stories of American Indians in the 18th century. ( COURTESY OF THE COLONIAL WILLIAMSBURG FOUNDATION)

the United States who interpret the stories, roles, and interactions of diverse indigenous people in the 1700s and today. For more information on careers with Colonial Williamsburg, visit the careers page at colonialwilliamsburg.org.

Colonial Williamsburg’s American Indian Initiative plays a vital role in the Foundation’s mission to share a fuller, more inclusive history of Williamsburg and Colonial America. Guests are invited to attend one of the following special programs featuring American Indian stories.

Programs at the Hennage Auditorium located within the Colonial Williamsburg Art Museums are free with admission. Livestream events are

free online.

Hennage Auditorium programs: • From Freedom to Slavery (Sept. 29; Oct. 6, 20, 27; Nov. 3, 10, 17) • Lafayette and Kayewla: The Marquis and the Oneida (Nov. 4) • Sam’s War (Nov. 11) • Captives to Citizens (Nov. 18) • Stories of the Past, People of the Present (Nov. 25) Livestreams: • Trades Tuesday: The Indian Trade (Nov. 2) • CW Conversation: American Indian Heritage Month (Nov. 20)

www.flagshipnews.com | The Flagship | Section 3 | Thursday, October 28, 2021 3

Mark Fleming (L) raising the hand of the new Virginia Heavyweight Champion“Mr. Xcellence” Brandon Scott (R). (COURTESY PHOTO)

(Courtesy of Disney on Ice)

Disney from Page 1

he said he was a true Disney nerd. It’s also fun to play with the audience sometimes and keep them entertained because those moments are unscripted and are a lot of fun. Of course the show doesn’t always go as smoothly as we would like. It’s really fun watching the skaters creatively putting the show together as it is secretly having an issue while moving on to plans B, C and D with all of them being just as good as plan A. The audience is never aware of it and the quality is always the same. It never ceases to amaze me.

Y: What are some of the coolest places in the world that you have performed in?

KM: In total, I have visited 51 countries. They are all great, but my top two that mean the most to me have been: Scotland because it was my first across the pond visit and so beautiful, and South Africa because going to Africa in itself is always such a big moment. I mean their closest Disney Park is in France. I also loved going to New Zealand and Argentina.

Y: How would you compare audiences overseas with audiences in America?

KM: It’s definitely interesting because different audiences show appreciation for different things. When we were in Japan for example, there was a lot of acknowledgment of the technically difficult tricks that were performed.

Then there are places like Ireland where you

do something slightly comical and the whole place erupts rather than at the technically difficult element. In South America when we played in Brazil, the “Let It Go” solo from Frozen and it was the same in the Philippines, you could not even hear the music because the audience was singing along so loud, that you really had no idea if you were on time or not.

Y: Any pinch me type moments for you?

KM: One of the characters that I miss playing very much is Drizella, the green stepsister in Cinderella because we got to be bad at skating and fall all over the place. It was my goal every day to come off the ice laughing. It hit me most of the time that wow, this is my job, I get to laugh and have a good time, make a full of myself and make other people laugh. There was no pressure on the role. It was running amok, and being crazy. It takes a good ice skater to come off looking like a bad ice skater. Another great moment was that I got to understudy Elsa in the Philippines around Christmas time and I remember towards the end of the number a little girl was waiting, going crazy and yelling Elsa, Elsa and I remember thinking what a cool moment that was. That’s me she is reacting like that with, and then I had to get back into the character. It’s wonderful to see the fans and us as performers get lost into our characters.

Yiorgo is an arts, entertainment and sports writer. A stage, TV and movie actor, he is also a sports entertainer, educator, motivational speaker, writer, storyteller and columnist.

VCW

from Page 1

the “Platinum Icon” Phil Brown will put his title on the line against the returning “Greek God” Papadon. These two competed against one another for the Liberty Championship once before in early 2018. Phil Brown was victorious in that encounter, after VCW Commissioner George Pantas prevented Papadon from using a foreign object to gain the upper hand. “I stand by my decision to ensure that bout was a fair contest,” Commissioner Pantas commented. “It’s unfortunate that I have been assigned to work from home by our new Director. Nothing would please me more than to watch Phil Brown once again defend his title successfully.” Meanwhile, the “Greek God” has proclaimed that he was cheated out of the title. “George Pantas stuck his nose into my business and cost me my victory,” Papadon exclaimed in a recorded statement. “That’s the only reason Phil Brown has been the U.S. Liberty Champion since 2018.” Papadon is adamant that without the Commissioner in the building he will be taking the United States Liberty Championship back home to Greece, which he added “is the true birthplace of liberty.”

Earlier this month, it was announced that one-half of the Golden Pinky Society, Benjamin Banks, would be unable to attend

November’s event due to a personal commitment. However, his partner “Diamond” Victor Griff would still be at the Norfolk Masonic Temple. Upon hearing this news, Black Wallstreet (Drolix and Chuck Lennox) issued a six-man tag team challenge to Griff.

One can assume that this was motivated by opportunism. Griff selected the rookie Myles Hawkins as his first partner. Hawkins eliminated Chuck Lennox from the Liberty Lottery match, which I’m told factored into the decision. Travis Huckabee, known for his grounded, mat-wrestling style, offered to be the second partner in hopes of making a splash on the VCW scene. Not to be outdone, Black Wallstreet announced their third man as Solo, who VCW fans will remember as Marcellus Prime. Solo built a reputation for himself with his freakish strength and by being nearly impervious. This one is certain to be a wild affair.

Other scheduled matches include former Bellator MMA professional fighter “Weapon X” Matt Makowski locking up with Dezmon King, Timmy Danger (accompanied by the “Manager of Champions” Neil Sharkey) taking on Arik Royal, and Joe Keys going one-on-one with the debuting Cabana Man Dan. All of this, plus more, takes place on Saturday night November 6th at the Norfolk Masonic Temple located at 7001 Granby Street in Norfolk, VA next to Granby High School. Until next time, I’ll see

4 The Flagship | www.flagshipnews.com | Section 3 | Thursday, October 28, 2021

Food

Cheesy Chorizo Nachos. (COURTESY PHOTO)

A Winning Recipe to Feed Game Day Fans

By Family Features Settling in for an afternoon of gridiron action calls for football food from dips and appetizers to full-blown feasts. Whether you’re a diehard fan, casual observer or just there for the game time grub, a full day of “homegating” requires flavorful eats to refuel the crowd.

One of the easiest ways to take your menu from benchwarmer to superstar status is to add foods from one of the country’s top authentic Mexican food brands, Cacique, to your playbook. For example, flavor-packed, heaping Cheesy Chorizo Nachos can score a touchdown at your gathering, even among the

pickiest of fans. When the game is on the line, call on this dish to keep your team satisfied from kickoff to the final whistle.

Made with crumbly, creamy, pleasantly milky queso fresco; authentic real cheese queso dip that’s ready in minutes; robust, spicy pork chorizo; fresh-tasting Crema Mexicana; and small-batch homestyle salsa, this shareable dish can feed a houseful of hungry fans.

Ready in less than an hour, it’s a perfect solution for pregame baking so it’s ready just before the coin toss.

To find more game day recipes, visit CaciqueInc.com.

Cheesy Chorizo Nachos

1 package Cacique Pork Chorizo 1 package Cacique Queso Blanco Queso Dip 1 can (15 ounces) refried beans 2 tablespoons water, plus additional, if necessary 1 bag (12 ounces) tortilla chips 1 package Cacique Ranchero Queso Fresco ½ cup Cacique Crema Mexicana 1 large jalapeno, sliced thin 2 radishes, sliced thin fresh cilantro leaves, for garnish guacamole, for serving Cacique Mild Homestyle Salsa, for serving In large nonstick skillet or well-seasoned cast-iron pan over medium-low heat, cook

pork chorizo, using spoon to break it up. Stir regularly until completely warmed through and deep brown, scraping crispy bits from bottom of pan.

Microwave queso dip 2-3 minutes until heated through.

In medium bowl, thin refried beans with water. Beans should be thick but nearly pourable; add additional water 1 tablespoon at a time, if necessary.

Heat oven to 350 F. To assemble nachos, add half the tortilla chips to 13-by-9-inch rectangular baking dish. Use spoon to drizzle half the queso dip and half the refried beans evenly over chips, distributing as evenly as possible. Sprinkle with half the crumbled queso fresco. Repeat with remaining chips, queso dip, beans and crumbled queso fresco. Bake 5-8 minutes until crumbled queso fresco softens and queso dip is creamy.

Remove from oven then drizzle with crema Mexicana and scatter pork chorizo over top.

Garnish with sliced jalapenos, radishes and fresh cilantro. Serve with guacamole and salsa.

www.flagshipnews.com | The Flagship | Section 3 | Thursday, October 28, 2021 5

Health

Army Maj. Renee Krebs, Veterinary Medical Center Europe deputy director and veterinary surgeon, prepares to amputate Military Working Dog Alex’s leg. Alex, a MWD with the Army’s 91st Military Police Battalion, 16th Military Police Brigade, was injured in Afghanistan in 2018 and suffered shrapnel wounds to his left leg and back side as well as a broken bone in that same leg. He was medically evacuated to the VMCE, Pulaski Barracks, Germany, for care. After spending more than a week at VMCE, Krebs made the decision to amputate the leg to relieve him of the pain but also to provide a quicker recovery time. (ASHLEY PATOKA)

How DHA Plans to Boost Battlefield Care for Military Working Dogs

By Janet A. Aker

MHS Communications

Alex, a military working dog, was working alongside his handler with an Army military police unit in Afghanistan in 2018 when a nearby insurgent detonated a suicide vest. In shock with severe injuries including a fractured leg, the German Shepard was medically evacuated immediately.

Over the next few weeks, Alex received intensive care and treatment at the Department of Defense’s Veterinary Medical Center Europe in Landstuhl, Germany. Although he recovered well, his wounds were too severe to allow him to return to duty, and Alex was medically retired from the military and adopted.

Alex is just one of the many military working dogs (MWDs) deployed in support of combat operations.

“In FY 2019, nearly 1,000 MWDs deployed to support multiple combat operations,” mainly in Iraq and Afghanistan, said Defense Health Agency (DHA) Veterinary Services Chief Army Col. Nicole Chevalier.

In the last two decades, more than 4,000 MWDs dogs have suffered combat injuries. But detailed information on the dogs’ injuries and treatments were not captured in any existing database, making it difficult to do any research and analysis on those incidents, Chevalier said.

Database Would Improve Care

Tracking that information and creating a comprehensive military working dog trauma registry is a key next step to improving MWD combat casualty care. This would allow military veterinarians and working dog handlers to draw lessons learned and improve the training and medical care provided to these highly trained canine warfighters.

The Defense Health Agency Veterinary Services is currently seeking funding for the MWD trauma registry, which should be operational in late 2021.

“A trauma registry would provide data to inform both evidence-based performance improvement and research efforts to better protect dogs in combat zones. In turn, this will minimize morbidity and mortality rates and reduce lost working days due to illness or injury,” Chevalier said.

Data from the registry might also help in the development of protective equipment.

A registry “would uniformly create an abstract containing vital statistics on a particular dog, the nature of how the dog was injured, and the extent of the injury itself, successful or failed treatments, and outcomes,” she explained.

This is important because “now there is a global shortage of working dogs,” Chevalier said, and they are not easy to replace.

“These dogs provide critical force protection for the warfighter.”

In 2010, a Pentagon task force concluded

that the best bomb tracker is a dog, Chevalier added. Using mechanical systems to track down improvised explosive devices resulted in only 50% of IEDS being detected.

By contrast, 89% of IEDs were detected by military working dogs.

These canine warfighters improve force protection, mission readiness and lethality because they can find insurgents and weapons caches and protect troops, Chevalier continued.

“Because of the lack of research support to date, even a modest investment to translate key advances in battlefield care for humans to MWDs could yield substantial gains,” according to a commentary by the Military Working Dog Trauma Registry Strategic Planning Group published in the November/ December 2018 journal “Military Medicine.”

K9 Combat Casualty Care Committee The K9 Combat Casualty Care Committee (K9C4) was officially chartered this year, Chevalier stated, and will operate under the auspices of the DHA Joint Trauma System Defense Committee on Trauma.

The K9C4 will use information from the trauma registry to improve MWD trauma care delivery through development of clinical practice guidelines and informing training and education initiatives for health care providers.

Two forms that will populate the DOD

Military Working Dog Trauma Registry are similar to those used for human warfighters. They are DD Form 3073, “Canine Tactical Combat Casualty Care Card,” and DD Form 3074, “Canine Treatment and Resuscitation Record.” These forms were recently published by DHA. The American Veterinary Medicine Association supports the creation of the registry.

Another way to help MWDs would be new developments in battlefield treatment, explained Army Lt. Col. Sarah Cooper, the chief of Animal Medicine at the DHA. Veterinary Services is working to have canine blood products available on the battlefield to more quickly treat injured dogs.

“The MWD Trauma Registry, K9C4, and canine blood products on the battlefield are all efforts underway to enhance protection and improve outcomes for MWDs,” Cooper said.

“Data from the [DOD Military Working Dog Trauma Registry] will be used to guide product research and development, training for canine combat casualty care and development of MWD clinical practice guidelines. The goal is to prevent MWDs like Alex from being injured, but if they are injured, to ensure the best possible outcome for these canine warfighters,” Cooper said.

Retired Army Gen. David Petraeus, who once served as the commander of U.S. forces in U.S. Central Command, said in 2008: “The capability that working dogs bring to the fight cannot be replicated by man or machine. By all measures of performance, their yield outperforms any asset we can have in our inventory. Our Army would be remiss if we failed to invest more in this incredibly valuable resource.”

Pregnancy Health Alert: COVID-19 Vaccine is Strongly Recommended

By Janet A. Aker

MHS Communications

If you are pregnant, recently pregnant or thinking about getting pregnant in the future, you should get the COVID-19 vaccination, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention advised in a recent health advisory.

Pregnant and recently pregnant women with COVID-19 are at increased risk of severe illness, death, and pregnancy complications, studies show.

“Pregnant service members should be vaccinated as part of mandatory COVID-19 vaccination of DOD service members directed by the Secretary,” according to an Oct. 5 DOD memorandum that aligns with the CDC recommendations. Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III issued a mandate that all service members be vaccinated against COVID-19 on Aug. 24.

The recommendation that pregnant or recently pregnant women get vaccinated against COVID-19 is not new, but because of the gravity of the concern, CDC issued the recent health alert, which calls for “urgent action,” saying the CDC “strongly recommends COVID-19 vaccination either before or during pregnancy because the benefits of vaccination outweigh known or potential risks.”

The numbers of Americans who are pregnant and vaccinated fully or previously fully vaccinated against the SARS-CoV-2 virus that causes COVID-19 is only 31%, according to CDC data.

“All women are encouraged to become fully vaccinated against COVID-19 before pregnancy,” said Dr. Margaret Ryan, medical director of the Defense Health Agency’s Immunization Healthcare Division in San Diego, California. “If not vaccinated before pregnancy, they should become vaccine-protected during pregnancy and enroll in CDC’s v-safe tracking system.”

About 97% of pregnant women hospitalized (either for illness or for labor and delivery) with confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection were unvaccinated.

The DOD and CDC recommendations align with other recommendations from professional medical organizations serving people who are pregnant, including the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists and the Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine.

“A new study shows that patients vaccinated in late pregnancy had no increased risk of delivery problems. Another new study shows that patients vaccinated in early pregnancy appeared

to have no increased risk of pregnancy loss,” Ryan said.

Death Symptomatic pregnant women with COVID19 who are hospitalized have a 70% increased risk of death.

That is the case even though the absolute risk of death is low compared with non-pregnant symptomatic people, according to the CDC. Pregnancy is independently associated with a three-fold increased risk for ICU admission, a 2.4-fold increased risk for needing extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO), and a 1.7-fold increased risk of death due to COVID19 compared to symptomatic non-pregnant patients, according to new data cited by Navy Cmdr. (Dr.) Monica Lutgendorf, chair, Department of Gynecologic Surgery and Obstetrics at the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences in Bethesda, Maryland.

Pregnant patients with other health risk factors - like obesity, diabetes, heart disorders, chronic kidney disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, immunocompromised from organ transplantation, sickle cell disease and smoking, and those older than age 35 - also appear to have “an increased risk of adverse maternal outcomes,” Lutgendorf said.

As of Sept. 27, more than 125,000 laboratory-confirmed COVID-19 cases have been reported in pregnant women, including more than 22,000 hospitalized cases and 161 deaths.

Preterm Birth Pregnant women with the COVID-19 disease are also at increased risk for preterm birth./p> Some preliminary data suggests that COVID-19 increases risk for other adverse pregnancy complications and outcomes, such as preeclampsia (severe high blood pressure), coagulopathy (blood coagulation to clots), and stillbirth, compared with pregnant people without COVID-19.

Risks to Newborn Babies Furthermore, CDC’s alert explained that babies “born to people with COVID-19 are also at increased risk for admission to the neonatal ICU.” “In addition, although rare, pregnant people with COVID-19 can transmit infection to their neonates; among neonates born to women with COVID-19 during pregnancy, 1%-4% of neonates tested were positive” based on polymerase chain technology testing, CDC said.

Sandra Murray-Campbell, licensed practical nurse, administers a COVID-19 vaccine to Army Capt. Bryana Fournier , a registered nurse for the Bayne-Jones Army Community Hospital emergency department at the Joint Readiness Training Center and Fort Polk, Louisiana. DOD and CDC advise all pregnant people, those trying to get pregnant, or breastfeeding to get vaccinated against COVID-19. (JEAN GRAVES)

Breastfeeding A majority of military doctors agree that women who have been vaccinated against COVID-19 should not have any concerns about breastfeeding.

Getting the vaccine while breastfeeding protects the mother and is safe for both the mother and the baby, Ryan said, adding: “Breastfeeding is healthy for babies, and mom’s antibodies may be present in breastmilk. Breastfeeding is not an established way for an infant to attain immunity against COVID-19, but breastfeeding is still clearly healthy for babies.”

Other CDC Recommendations Vaccination coverage for pregnant women differs by race and ethnicity, with vaccination uptake being lowest for non-Hispanic Black pregnant women (15.6%), data collected by the agency show.

In addition, “pregnant people should continue to follow all recommended prevention measures” such as mask wearing, hand washing and physical distancing, “and should seek care immediately for any symptoms of COVID-19.”

Healthcare providers should have “a low threshold for increased monitoring during

pregnancy due to the risk of severe illness.”

Pregnant women “should be counseled by health care personnel in alignment with the CDC, ACOG, SMFM, and the American Society for Reproductive Medicine and the recommendations for vaccination,” Lutgendorf said.

“Counseling to support the recommendation for vaccination should include data on vaccine efficacy and vaccine safety during pregnancy and lactation,” she added.

“Provider counseling has been shown to have a significant positive impact on patient vaccination,” she said. The CDC added a strong recommendation from a health care provider is a critical factor in COVID-19 vaccine acceptance.

The CDC also recommends that health care workers remind patients that COVID19 vaccination is recommended even for those with prior COVID-19 infections.

Eligible pregnant women should also consider a booster dose.

There is currently no evidence that any vaccines, including COVID-19 vaccines, cause fertility problems in women or men, CDC data show.

6 The Flagship | www.flagshipnews.com | Section 3 | Thursday, October 28, 2021

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King Cab Diesel, 4X4, 52K mis., XLT Pkg., tow pkg., bedliner, all service & state insp just done, showroom new, $48,500. 757-620-7570. Va. Dlr.

TOYOTA 2021 TUNDRA

1991 HARLEY DAVIDSON Soft Tail Custom. Motor 81.6 CI, Model FXSTC. We did a very extensive restoration by Leonard at Hampton Roads Harley Davidson in 2007. Lost interest in riding, stored in climate controlled garage, lots of spare parts.

Must see show bike! $9,250. Contact: 757-373-3332

Autos for Sale

MAZDA 1991 MIATA MX-5

Red with black top convertible. Needs some work. $1,000 OBO. 757-672-9376

MERCEDES-BENZ 1996 220

Under direction of the Authority’s Board of Commissioners, the CEO is responsible for the overall safety, security, management, and operation of the Norfolk International Airport. Interested applicants should visit https://acsfirm.careerwebsite. com for additional information.

Crew Cab, TRD Pro Pkg, 12K mis., 4WD, Lunar Rock color, factory warranty, loaded, leather, looks new. $62,900. 757-675-0288. Va. Dlr.

Don’t pay full price!

Wanted Automotive AUTOS ACCEPTED-ANY YEAR Make or Model. Top Dollar, Fast, Free Towing. 757-737-2465, 252-232-9192

Good news.

With The Virginian-Pilot’s coupons and sales inserts, shop smart and save big

Early home delivery.

757-446-9000 PilotOnline.com

every week!

4cyl,great on gas,no dents or rust ,inside like new,126k,cold,ac,new,tires, new,inspection,Runs,&Drives,excelle nt$4850,757-237-5757

PUG 8 wks & up, fawn/black, family raised, shots, wormed, top quality. 35 years experience. Males & females. $1,000 & up. 540-907-1696

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FORD 2017 F350

Travel/Camping Trailers

Motorcycles and ATVs

5 mo old male. Fully vaccinated. Intelligent, loving. Great bird dog & family companion. $500 Call 757-615-7465 for details.

Appraisal Service With 40 Years Experience

Wanted To Buy

STANDARD POODLES

Dogs, Cats, Other Pets

422-4477

virginiabeachantiquecompany.com

Trucks and SUVs

DODGE 2008 RAM 1500

GERMAN SHEPHERD AKC, Solid Black/Black & Tan, White, 8 wks & up. Shots & Wormed, Family Raised. $1000 & up. 35 years experience. 540-907-1696

Virginia Beach Antique Co.

Dogs, Cats, Other Pets

Classic, Antique Cars

FORD 1929 STATION WAGON

Room For Rent VIRGINIA BEACH Furn rm. $600/mo incl util, kitch, lndry, cable. No smkng or pets 757-486-3761

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Call 757-446-9000 or go to PilotOnline.com

Fun & Games

Woody. Complete restoration, 350 V-8 auto, disc brakes, tilt wheel, show winner, runs & drives great. $32,900. 757-675-0288. Va. Dlr.

We will purchase your collectible, classic, late model autos, we will come to you. Call 757-675-0288.

Shop smart.

Save big! Sunday

Jump start your day.

(and every day).

Early home delivery

757-446-9000 • PilotOnline.com

Early home delivery. 757-446-9000 or PilotOnline.com

Subscribe to The Virginian-Pilot today.

Call 757-446-9000 or go to PilotOnline.com

Sudoku

CryptoQuip

Last week’s CryptoQuip answer

New cable channel that feature all sorts of show about nuclear reations: Tele-fisstion.

LAST WEEK’S ANSWERS

Religious Services For your installation’s religious service times visit www.flagshipnews.com⁄ base_information⁄ religious_services

8 The Flagship | www.flagshipnews.com | Section 3 | Thursday, October 28, 2021