By Staff
Special to The Star
May 24, 2002
Fifteen U.S. Navy and Marine Corps pilots will receive their "Wings of Gold" today in a 3:30 p.m. ceremony in the chapel of Naval Air Station Meridian.
The Naval aviator designation ceremony is not prescribed specifically by U.S. Navy regulations. But it has emerged as an honored product of the rich heritage of naval traditions.
It marks the culmination of nearly two years of specialized training, which has prepared the officers for 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 Rear Adm. Gerald L. Hoewing, the deputy chief of Naval personnel-commander, Navy Personnel Command, Millington, Tenn.
Those receiving their Wings of Gold include the following:
Lt. j.g. Christopher Robert Brenner, who carrier qualified in the T-2C Buckeye on board the USS Harry S. Truman on May 12.
Ensign j.g. Jeffrey Allen Callaway, who, carrier qualified in the T-2C Buckeye on board the USS Harry S. Truman on May 12.
Lt. j.g. Thomas Edward Childers, who carrier qualified in the T-45C Goshawk on board the USS Harry S. Truman on May 12.
1st Lt. Ryan Benjamin Colvert, who carrier qualified in the T-45C Goshawk on board the Harry S. Truman on March 29.
Capt. James Andrew Cooper, who carrier qualified in the T-45C Goshawk on board the USS Harry S. Truman on May 12.
Lt. j.g. Jack Edward Curtis, who carrier qualified in the T-45C Goshawk on board the USS Harry S. Truman on May 12.
Lt. j.g. Brendan Paul D'Anna, who carrier qualified in the T-2C Buckeye on board the USS Harry S. Truman on May 12.
Lt. j.g. Julio Cenon Galvin Jr., who carrier qualified in the T-2C Buckeye on board the USS Harry S. Truman on May 12.
Lt. j.g. Robert Ernest Hanvey, who carrier qualified in the T-2C Buckeye on board the USS Harry S. Truman on May 12.
Lt. j.g. Johannes Edward Patrick Jolly, who carrier qualified in the T-45C Goshawk on board the USS Harry S. Truman on May 12.
Lt. j.g. John Peter Kaheny, who carrier qualified in the T-2C Buckeye on board the USS Harry S. Truman on May 12.
Lt. j.g. Richard Allan Riisma, who carrier qualified in the T-45C Goshawk on board the USS Harry S. Truman on March 29.
Lt. j.g. Charles Robert Simon, who carrier qualified in the T-2C Buckeye on board the USS Harry S. Truman on May 12.
Ensign Michael Rex Wallace, who carrier qualified in the T-45C "Goshawk" on board the Harry S. Truman on May 12.
Lt. j.g. Douglas Daniel Wyman, who carrier qualified in the T-45C Goshawk on board the USS Harry S. Truman on May 12.