The Washington Surveyor - June 18, 2021

W

THE

S

ASHINGTON

URVEYOR

Vol. 21, Issue 13

June 24, 2021 Special Edition

Change of Command

W

S

THE

ASHINGTON

URVEYOR

Vol. 21, Issue 13 June 24 , 2021 Special Edition

USS George Washington (CVN 73) Commanding Officer

Prospective Commanding Officer

Executive Officer

Command Master Chief

Editor-in-Chief Lt. Cmdr. Javan Rasnake

Copy Editors Lt. Chelsea Cannaday MCC Christina Shaw MC1 Stacy Atkinsricks

Capt. Brent Gaut

Capt. Kenneth Strong

Capt. Michael Nordeen

CMDCM Christopher Zeigler

MC2 Elizabeth Cohen

Media Team

Media Department

MC2 Marlan Sawyer MC2 Anthony Hilkowski

Public Affairs Officer

Deputy Public Affairs Officer

Lt. Cmdr. Javan Rasnake

Lt. Chelsea Cannaday

MC3 Tatyana Freeman MC3 Cory Daut MC3 Robert Stamer

Departmental LCPO

Departmental LPO

MCC Christina Shaw

MC1 Stacy Atkinsricks

Special Edition

Our Strongest Issue Yet 4 SAYING FAREWELL TO CAPT. STRONG

8

CAPT. STRONG ON THE DECKPLATES

MC3 Aislynn Heywood MC3 Leo Katsareas MCSN Jack Lepien MCSN Preston Cash

Media Department Requests PRINT REQUESTS

MCSN Dakota Nack

PHOTO/VIDEO REQUESTS J-DIAL: 5615

E-MAIL CVN-73 Media Print Requests

MCSN Joseph Negusse MCSN Joshua Cabal MCSN Dyxan Williams

mediaprintrequests@cvn73.navy.mil

MCSN Nicholas Russell

PHOTO STUDIO HOURS

6 TIMELINE OF ACCOMPLISHMENTS

10 GETTING TO KNOW THE NEW CO, CAPT. GAUT

WED. - THU. MON. - TUE. 1230-1430 0900-1100 Located in 01-165-3-Q

A special thank you to all those who let us tell your stories to the crew and to the fleet.

The Washington Surveyor is an authorized publication for Sailors serving aboard USS George Washington (CVN 73). Contents herein are not the visions of, or endorsed by the U.S. government, the Department of Defense, the Department of the Navy, or the Commanding Officer of USS George Washington. All news releases, photos, or information for publication in The Washington Surveyor must be submitted to the Public Affairs Officer.

2 • The Washington Surveyor

The Washington Surveyor • 3

SAYING FAREWELL TO

CAPT. STRONG

a l o t o f r i s k a n d we wo r ke d i n a

p o r t i o n o f S a i l o r s d o n o t k n ow

t h e av a i l a b i l i t y wo r k a n d t h e n

d i f f i c u l t e nv i ro n m e n t ; we s t i l l d o.

h ow a n o p e r a t i o n a l c a r r i e r l o o k s

a s s u m i n g t h e ro l e o f s u s t a i n i n g

B u t we go t i t d o n e t o g e t h e r. ”

a n d s o u n d s . A c h i ev i n g t h e s m a l l e r

t h e re a d i n e s s ; t h e c l e a n l i n e s s ,

Story by MCSN Dakota Nack

On September 5,

j u g g l i n g p ro d u c t i o n , f i n i s h i n g

S t ro n g i s a c u t e l y

S t ro n g a c k n ow l e d g e s G e o r g e

a c c o m p l i s h m e n t s a l o n g t h e w ay

t h e o p e r a t i o n a l c ap a b i l i t y o f

Wa s h i n g t o n h a s m o re wo r k t h a t

has helped perpetuate a vision

ow n e r s h i p i s n o t e a s y f o r a f i r s t

m u s t b e c o m p l e t e d b e f o re t h e s h i p

t h a t t h e re i s a f i n i s h l i n e t h a t w i l l

[tour of duty]. It is also not easy

will be able to get back to sea,

b e c ro s s e d .

wo r k i n g o u t o f r a t e .”

but during his time as commanding

2 0 1 9 , C a p t . Ke n n e t h

cognizant of the

A . S t ro n g b e c a m e t h e

d i f f i c u l t a t m o s p h e re

14th commanding

of RCOH. Sailors

G e o r g e Wa s h i n g t o n h a s

I t i s i n ev i t a b l e t h a t t h e re

officer of the

a b o a rd G e o r g e

a c h i eve d s o m e c o n s i d e r a b l e

w i l l b e ro u g h t i m e s . T h e re

N i m i t z - c l a s s a i rc r a f t

Wa s h i n g t o n a re

milestones. Some of the

carrier USS George

t a s ke d w i t h a rd u o u s

notable accomplishments

Wa s h i n g t o n ( C V N

e n d e avo r s l i ke

a c h i eve d d u r i n g S t ro n g ’s

7 3 ) . W h e n S t ro n g

re s t o r i n g e n t i re

time as commanding officer

a s s u m e d t h e ro l e a n d

s p a c e s , wo r k i n g

include: exiting the dry dock

re s p o n s i b i l i t i e s a s

out of rate, and

a n d m o o r i n g t o t h e p i e r,

commanding officer of

c o o rd i n a t i n g w i t h

l i g h t i n g t h e i s l a n d , re s t o r i n g

G e o r g e Wa s h i n g t o n ,

off-ship entities,

air conditioning, bringing the

the ship was entering

but all of it has

C o n s o l i d a t e d A f l o a t N e t wo r k s

the second half of

a purpose. That

and Enterprise Services

Refueling and Complex

purpose is to

(CANES) system online,

O ve r h a u l ( R C O H ) ,

build the Spirit of

re b u i l d i n g a n d re i n s t a l l i n g t h e

a m u l t i - ye a r p ro j e c t

F re e d o m a n d re t u r n

c a t ap u l t , i n s t a l l i n g t h e R o l l i n g

performed only once

the ship to the

Airframe Missile (RAM) system,

w i t n e s s w a s t h e g row t h a n d u n i t y

t h e f a m i l y, t o o. T h i s p ro f e s s i o n

d u r i n g a c a r r i e r ’s 5 0 -

f l e e t a s t h e wo r l d ’s

o p e n i n g t h e b a r b e r s h o p, c o f f e e

o f t h e S a i l o r s wo r k i n g a b o a rd .

d o e s t a ke a t o l l o n f a m i l i e s .

ye a r s e r v i c e l i f e t h a t

p re m i e r o p e r a t i o n a l

s h o p, a n d s h i p s t o re , re s t o r i n g

I t h a s b e e n a g re a t s a t i s f a c t i o n

Fo l l ow yo u r b l i s s a n d o p e n yo u r

i n c l u d e s re f u e l i n g t h e

n u c l e a r- p owe re d

s h i p ’s l a u n d r y, re e s t a b l i s h i n g

f o r S t ro n g t o w a t c h t h e s h i p

h e a r t .”

s h i p ’s t wo n u c l e a r

a i rc r a f t c a r r i e r

f u n c t i o n a l g a l l ey s , c rew m e s s ,

c o m e t o g e t h e r. T h e s h i p i s b e t t e r,

re a c t o r s , a s we l l a s

ove r s e e i n g a n a re a

C h i e f ’s M e s s , a n d Wa rd ro o m ,

m a t e r i a l l y a n d c u l t u r a l l y, t h a n

S t ro n g w a s h i s l ove f o r f l y i n g . H e

w h e n h e a r r i ve d .

h a s f l ow n i n a t l e a s t 1 7 d i f f e re n t

S i n c e S t ro n g t o o k t h e h e l m ,

s i g n i f i c a n t re p a i r s , u p g r a d e s , a n d

d e p l oy m e n t p a t ro l c y c l e s , t wo

o f o p e r a t i o n s t h a t s p a n s m o re t h a n

re s t o r i n g m e d i c a l a n d d e n t a l

modernization.

c rew sw ap s , a n “ A ro u n d t h e H o r n ”

1 2 4 m i l l i o n s q u a re k i l o m e t e r s .

o n b o a rd , b r i n g i n g S h i p b o a rd

T h i s w a s n o t S t ro n g ’s f i r s t t i m e s e r v i n g a b o a rd t h e s h i p.

d e p l oy m e n t , a n d a h o m e p o r t s h i f t f ro m J ap a n t o N o r f o l k .

I n S e p t e m b e r o f 2 0 1 4 , S t ro n g re p o r t e d a s t h e e xe c u t i ve o f f i c e r o f G e o r g e Wa s h i n g t o n , w h i l e t h e s h i p w a s i n a v a s t l y d i f f e re n t o p e r a t i n g e nv i ro n m e n t . D u r i n g S t ro n g ’s t i m e a s e xe c u t i ve o f f i c e r, G e o r g e Wa s h i n g t o n w a s t h e N av y ’s f o r w a rd d e p l oye d a i rc r a f t c a r r i e r i n U. S . 7 t h F l e e t . S t ro n g l e d t h e c rew t h ro u g h t wo

4 • The Washington Surveyor

“When they tear your ship apart, don’t let them tear down your culture, too.”

- Capt. Strong

S t ro n g re a l i z e s t h e c h a l l e n g e s

o f f i c e r, h i s f avo r i t e t h i n g t o

S t ro n g a c k n ow l e d g e s t h a t t h e N av y i s c e r t a i n l y a d i f f i c u l t c a re e r.

“Sailors make it look easy, and there’s nothing easy about it.”

-Capt. Strong

w i l l a l s o b e wo n d e r f u l l y f u n t i m e s . S t ro n g h a s s p e n t ove r 2 9 ye a r s i n t h e N av y a n d t h e re we re m a ny m o m e n t s t h ro u g h o u t w h e re h e thought about doing other t h i n g s . S t ro n g b e l i eve s t h o s e t h o u g h t s a re h e a l t hy a n d p ro p e r. “ Fo l l ow yo u r b l i s s , yo u r d re a m s , go a l s a n d d e s i re s ,” s ay s S t ro n g . “ I t i s i m p o r t a n t for the individual and for

“ S e e i n g o u r c u l t u re c h a n g e ,

O n e g i f t t h e N av y h a s g i ve n t o

a i rc r a f t p l a t f o r m s . D e s p i t e t h e

I n f o r m a t i o n Tr a i n i n g a n d

h ow we re s p o n d t o c a s u a l t i e s

f a c t t h a t i t i s a n A r my h e l i c o p t e r,

m a ny S a i l o r s a re f a c e d w i t h . D u e

Entertainment (SITE TV) online,

a n d h ow we d e a l w i t h d ay t o d ay

S t ro n g h a s a n a f f i n i t y f o r t h e

to RCOH and the impact of the

a n d m a ny o t h e r m i l e s t o n e s t o

issues, managing people and the

O H - 6 L i t t l e b i rd b e c a u s e o f i t s

C OV I D - 1 9 p a n d e m i c , t h e p a t t e r n

g e t G e o r g e Wa s h i n g t o n c l o s e r t o

t h i n g s t h a t p o p u p, we l o o k a n d

a g i l i t y. H oweve r, S t ro n g a l s o l ove s

and quality of life was interrupted

b e i n g a n o p e r a t i o n a l w a r s h i p.

s o u n d l i ke a n o p e r a t i o n a l c rew,”

flying the F/A-18 and the MH-60R.

s ay s S t ro n g . “ I t i s awe s o m e t o s e e .

Hopefully soon, he can get back to

S a i l o r s f ro m a l l 2 0 d e p a r t m e n t s

W h e n t h ey t e a r yo u r s h i p ap a r t ,

g e t t i n g s o m e re g u l a r f l i g h t h o u r s .

s o m a ny f i r s t t o u r S a i l o r s h ave

we re a b l e t o wo r k t o g e t h e r t o

d o n ’t l e t t h e m t e a r d ow n yo u r

n eve r t a ke n a s h i p u n d e r w ay,”

h e l p b u i l d t h e s h i p.

c u l t u re , t o o.”

f o r m a ny S a i l o r s . “ T h i s av a i l a b i l i t y i s s o l o n g ;

S t ro n g s a i d . “ L e a r n i n g t h e r a t e s ,

S t ro n g i s e l a t e d w i t h h ow

“ S a i l o r s m a ke i t l o o k e a s y, a n d

S t ro n g b e l i eve s o n e o f t h e

l e a r n i n g w h a t i t m e a n s t o ow n

t h e re ’s n o t h i n g e a s y a b o u t i t ,” s ay s

c o n t r i b u t i n g f a c t o r s t o t h e c rew ’s

a s h i p, t h e re s p o n s i b i l i t i e s ,

S t ro n g . “ T h e re i s a l o t o f s a c r i f i c e ,

s u c c e s s i s t h e i r v i s i o n . I t i s h a rd

t h e re i s a l o t o f p a i n , we a l l t o o k

t o h ave t h a t v i s i o n w h e n a s o l i d

T h a n k yo u s o m u c h fo r eve r y t h i n g yo u h ave d o n e , C a p t . S t ro n g . Fa i r w i n d s a n d fo l l ow i n g s e a s .

The Washington Surveyor • 5

Graphic by MCSN Joshua Cabal

6 • The Washington Surveyor

The Washington Surveyor • 7

8 • The Washington Surveyor

The Washington Surveyor • 9

GET TO KNOW THE NEW CO

W h a t h ave b e e n s o m e o f yo u r p ro u d e s t c a r e e r

CAPT. GAUT

accomplishments?

T h e p ro u d e s t a c c o m p l i s h m e n t o r f e e l i n g t h a t I h ave i s t h e re l a t i o n s h i p s t h a t I h ave d eve l o p e d t h ro u g h o u t my 2 8 ye a r s i n t h e N av y. I t h i n k t h a t we , a s a c o u n t r y, h ave t h e g re a t e s t

Interview by MC3 Robert Stamer

s h i p s , a i rc r a f t , s u b m a r i n e s , a n d t e c h n o l o g y i n t h e wo r l d . B u t

W h e re d o yo u h a i l f ro m ?

t h i s i s , a n d w i l l A LWAYS b e , a p e o p l e b u s i n e s s . I t re a l l y c o m e s

I w a s b o r n i n S t o c k t o n , C a l i f o r n i a . W h e n I w a s n i n e ye a r s o l d , my f a m i l y m ove d t o H aw a i i . I t ’s a n i n c re d i b l e

d ow n t o t h e p e o p l e yo u g e t t o wo r k w i t h . W h a t I l ove a b o u t

e x p e r i e n c e f o r a yo u n g p e r s o n , b u t I t o o k i t f o r g r a n t e d . I d i d n ’t re a l i z e t h a t l i v i n g t h e re w a s u n l i ke a ny o t h e r

t h e N av y i s t h a t we h ave s o m u c h d i ve r s i t y. We h ave s o m a ny

p l a c e . W h e n I w a s 1 4 , I m ove d t o D a n a Po i n t , C a l i f o r n i a a n d a t t e n d e d D a n a H i l l s H i g h S c h o o l .

p e o p l e w h o c o m e f ro m d i f f e re n t b a c k g ro u n d s a n d we c o m e t o g e t h e r, l i ve t o g e t h e r, t o a c c o m p l i s h a m i s s i o n a n d t o d o o u r

W hy d i d yo u j o i n t h e N av y ? W hy d i d yo u c h o o s e t h e N av a l A c a d e my ?

n a t i o n ’s b i d d i n g w h e n o u r n a t i o n n e e d s i t . T h a t i s w h a t I a m

T h e re a re t wo s i g n i f i c a n t eve n t s t h a t s h ap e d my d e s i re t o b e i n t h e N av y a n d t o p u r s u e b e c o m i n g a N av a l

m o s t g r a t e f u l f o r : t h e c h a n c e t o wo r k f o r a n d w i t h s o m a ny

Av i a t o r. T h e f i r s t : t h e re w a s a g e n t l e m a n t h a t wo r ke d a t my h i g h s c h o o l a s a g ro u n d s ke e p e r. E ve r y b o d y c a l l e d

i n c re d i b l e p e o p l e w h o w a n t t o b e p a r t o f s o m e t h i n g b i g g e r

h i m “ C h i e f ” b e c a u s e h e h a d b e e n a C h i e f Pe t t y O f f i c e r i n t h e N av y. W h e n I w a s f o u r t e e n ye a r s o l d , h e s a i d t o

t h a n t h e m s e l ve s , a n d t r u l y w a n t t o m a ke t h a t s a c r i f i c e a n d

m e t h a t I w a s e x a c t l y t h e t y p e o f yo u n g p e r s o n t h a t t h e N av y n e e d s . H e w a s a m e n t o r t o m e i n h i g h s c h o o l a n d

c o m m i t t o o u r c o u n t r y a n d t h e N av y.

t h a t go t m e t h i n k i n g a b o u t i t . T h e s e c o n d t h i n g w a s t h e m ov i e To p G u n c a m e o u t w h e n I w a s a f re s h m a n i n h i g h s c h o o l . S e e i n g h o w c o o l t h o s e g u y s l o o ke d i n t h e m ov i e , f l y i n g j e t s a n d b e i n g av i a t o r s , go t m e i n t e re s t e d i n

What do you uniquely bring to the George

p u r s u i n g t h i s c a re e r.

I s t h e re a ny h i s t o r y o f m i l i t a r y s e r v i c e i n yo u r f a m i l y ? D i d a nyo n e i n s p i re yo u t o j o i n ?

I n a d d i t i o n t o my h i g h s c h o o l m e n t o r, my u n c l e w a s a n a i rc rew m a n . H e f l ew i n P 3 s a n d h a s b e e n a n

Wa s h i n g t o n a s C O ?

I t h i n k my m e s s a g e i s h o p e f u l l y go i n g t o b e f a i r l y s i m p l e a n d s t r a i g h t f o r w a rd . We k n ow t h a t we a re i n a c h a l l e n g i n g e nv i ro n m e n t r i g h t n ow. T h e s h i p ’s ro l e i n t h e N av y ’s f u t u re i s v i t a l . T h e re i s n o d o u b t t h a t o u r

i n s p i r a t i o n f o r m e . H e c o n t i n u e s t o b e a m e n t o r o f m i n e , eve n t o d ay. H e i s ve r y p ro u d o f w h a t I ’ve d o n e . I a m

N av y a n d n a t i o n n e e d s t h i s s h i p t o b e o p e r a t o n a l , s o t h a t we c a n go d o w h a t t h e n a t i o n n e e d s u s t o d o. B u t

p ro u d o f h i m f o r h i s s e r v i c e , a n d g r a t e f u l f o r h i s i n f l u e n c e o n my l i f e .

i t ’s n o t go i n g t o g e t f i xe d t o m o r row. I t ’s a m a r a t h o n . We h ave t o b e p a t i e n t . We h ave t o b e v i g i l a n t i n s t ay i n g o n c o u r s e t o g e t t h e s h i p b a c k t o s e a . U n d e r s t a n d t h e re a re go i n g t o b e s o m e s e t b a c k s , a n d we j u s t h ave t o

H ow d o yo u m a i n t a i n a h e a l t hy wo r k / l i fe b a l a n c e ?

b e a b l e t o a d ap t t o w h a t eve r c o m e s o u r w ay t o g e t t h e s h i p b a c k u n d e r w ay a g a i n . T h e t e a m , o u r s h i p, i s go i n g

I t i s c h a l l e n g i n g . We t a l k a b o u t i t a l o t i n o u r b u s i n e s s , b u t we d o n ’t d o a go o d j o b o f a d h e r i n g t o t h a t

t o h e a r a l o t o f m e s ay i n g “ we ” , “ u s ” , “ o u r ” , n o t “ I ” , “ m e ” , o r “ my ” . T h i s i s n o t my s h i p . I t i s O U R s h i p . We a r e a

m i n d s e t o f h av i n g a go o d wo r k / l i f e b a l a n c e . M y w i f e h e l p s m e re m e m b e r t h e i m p o r t a n c e o f s e t t i n g wo r k a s i d e ,

t e a m a n d a fa m i l y, s o w e a r e go i n g t o d o t h i s t o ge t h e r. I t i s go i n g t o t a ke eve r y s i n g l e p e r s o n we h ave o n b o a rd ,

w h e n a b l e , a n d f o c u s i n g o n my f a m i l y. I k n ow t h e re a re p re c i o u s m o m e n t s m i s s e d w i t h my f a m i l y t h a t I wo n ’t

wo r k i n g h a rd eve r y s i n g l e d ay, e i t h e r i n a s m a l l w ay, o r a p o t e n t i a l l y b i g w ay, d e p e n d i n g o n t h e j o b t h a t ’s a t

g e t b a c k , s o I n e e d t o, a n d m o re i m p o r t a n t l y w a n t t o, f o c u s o n s p e n d i n g t i m e w i t h t h e m . H av i n g b e e n i n t h e

h a n d , t o m a ke u s b e t t e r.

N av y f o r 2 8 ye a r s , wo r k i s a l w ay s go i n g t o b e t h e re , s o yo u h ave t o re a l l y f i g h t t o p re s e r ve a n d m a i n t a i n t h e t i m e yo u h ave w i t h yo u r f a m i l y a n d f r i e n d s .

Wa s t h e re a s p e c i f i c c o m m a n d w h e re yo u l e a r n e d t h e m o s t a b o u t l e a d e r s h i p ?

A c o u p l e c o m m a n d s c o m e t o m i n d . I ’ve b e e n b l e s s e d t o h ave h a d c o m m a n d t w i c e a t t h e O - 5 l eve l , a n d t h e n i n m a j o r c o m m a n d . I w a s t h e e xe c u t i ve o f f i c e r f o r C ap t . Ke n n e t h S t ro n g w h i l e h e w a s t h e c o m m a n d i n g o f f i c e r o f H e l i c o p t e r M a r i t i m e S t r i ke S q u a d ro n ( H S M ) 7 7 . I l e a r n e d a l o t , a n d h e t a u g h t m e a g re a t d e a l a b o u t l e a d e r s h i p, a b o u t h av i n g a h i g h s t a n d a rd , a n d a b o u t e x p e c t a t i o n s i n c o m m a n d ; n o t j u s t e x p e c t i n g t h e b e s t f ro m t h e p e o p l e yo u a re b l e s s e d t o wo r k w i t h , b u t a l s o f ro m my s e l f . I go t t o o b s e r ve w h a t I c o n s i d e r n o t j u s t a g re a t f r i e n d , b u t a g re a t p ro f e s s i o n a l .

A b o a rd t h e U S S S a n A n t o n i o ( L P D 1 7 ) , n o t o n l y w a s i t a b l e s s i n g t o c o m m a n d t h a t s h i p, b u t i t w a s ve r y

A re t h e re l e s s o n s yo u h ave l e a r n e d t h a t yo u t h i n k w i l l h e l p j u n i o r S a i l o r s ?

W h a t I ’ve l e a r n e d i s t h i s : I t ’s n o t s o m u c h t h e d e s t i n a t i o n ; i t ’s a b o u t t h e j o u r n ey. A s a yo u n g e r p e r s o n , I a l w ay s u s e d t o l o o k f o r t h e s h o r t c u t . I ’ve f o u n d t h a t a ny t h i n g wo r t h w h i l e h a s t a ke n t i m e a n d s a c r i f i c e . T h e re a re go i n g t o b e s e t b a c k s . I t ’s go i n g t o b e h a rd , b u t a t t h e e n d o f t h e d ay, i t w i l l b e wo r t h w h i l e .

W h a t d o yo u h o p e t o a c c o m p l i s h w h i l e i n c o m m a n d o f G e o r ge Wa s h i n g t o n ?

I h o p e t o c o n t i n u e t o b u i l d t h e t e a m : a g ro u p o f p e o p l e w h o c a re a b o u t e a c h o t h e r, c a re a b o u t o u r s h i p, a n d c a re a b o u t t h e m i s s i o n t h a t we a re go i n g t o b e a s ke d t o e xe c u t e . A n d i n t h e s h o r t t e r m , t o d o eve r y t h i n g we c a n r i g h t n ow t o g e t o u r s h i p o f f o f t h i s p i e r. To g e t b a c k t o g e t t i n g o u t t o s e a o n a re g u l a r b a s i s ,

c h a l l e n g i n g t o g o t h ro u g h a ve r y d i f f i c u l t p h a s e o f t h e s h i p ’s l i f e t h ro u g h t h e c o m p l e t i o n o f a y a rd p e r i o d , t h e n

e xe c u t i n g s e a t r i a l s a n d t h e b a s i c p h a s e . To p re p a re h e r t o go a n d d o w h a t eve r t h e n a t i o n a s k s u s t o d o i n

j u m p i n g i n t o b a s i c p h a s e , a d v a n c e d p h a s e , a n d t h e f i n a l p re p s f o r t h e d e p l oy m e n t t h a t w a r s h i p i s o n r i g h t n ow.

d e f e n s e o f o u r n a t i o n a n d o u r N av y.

10 • The Washington Surveyor

The Washington Surveyor • 11