By Staff
Special to The Star
May 4, 2001
NAS MERIDIAN A naval aviator designation ceremony will be held today at 3:30 p.m. in the chapel at the Naval Air Station Meridian.
The naval aviator designation ceremony is not required by regulations, but has emerged as a part of U.S. Navy tradition. It marks the culmination of nearly two years of specialized training, which has prepared these officers for the demands of aerial combat and carrier operations earning each the title of Naval aviator and the right to wear the coveted "Wings of Gold."
The guest speaker will be Capt. William Gortney, deputy commander of Carrier Air Wing 7.
Eight U.S. Navy and Marine Corps pilots and four French Navy pilots will receive wings of gold.
Those pilots who carrier qualified in the T-45C "Goshawk" include:
Lt. j.g. Matthew Culp of Hanover, N.H.;
Ensign Jerome Laye of Saint-Dizier, France;
Ensign Frederick Petitjean of Ales, France;
Ensign Yannick Piart of Suresnes, France;
Lt. j.g. David Shuster of Randolph, N.J.;
1st Lt. Daniel Tamburello of Brookside, N.J.;
Lt. j.g. Stanislas Wierzbicki of Vichy, France; and
1st Lt. Shawn Williams of Thornhurst, Pa.
Those pilots who carrier qualified in the T-2C "Buckeye" include:
Ensign David Champaigne of Elkhart, Ind.;
Ensign Andrew Naporano III of Short Hills, N.J.;
Lt. j.g. Daniel Prochazka of Virginia Beach, Va.; and
Ensign Oliver Stormer of New York City.