By Staff
Special to The Star
Dec. 7, 2001
Naval Air Station Meridian will hold a naval aviator designation ceremony today, at 3:30 p.m., at the base chapel.
The "winging" ceremony is not required by regulations, but has emerged as an honored 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. Mark Needler, commander of Training Air Wing 1.
Eighteen U.S. Navy and Marine Corps pilots will receive wings of gold. Those pilots who qualified in the T-45C "Goshawk" include:
Lt. j.g. Colin Ackerman of Topsham, Maine;
1st Lt. Steven Bowden of Chapel Hill, N.C.;
Lt. j.g. Thomas Clark of Bedford, N.H.;
1st Lt. Christopher Davis of Bainbridge Island, Wash.;
Lt. j.g. Christopher Denny of Augusta, Ga.;
1st Lt. Timothy Foster of Springfield, Va.;
1st Lt. Bryan Grey of Boise, Idaho;
1st Lt. Wynn Hodgins of Sanford, Fla.;
Lt. j.g. Joshua Massie of Boardman, Ohio;
Lt. j.g. Patrick O'Mara of Mission Viejo, Calif.;
Lt. j.g. Jay Owens of Fairfax, Va.;
Lt. j.g. Jeremiah Shafer of St. Paul, Minn.;
1st Lt. James Tanis of Oakridge, N.J.; and
Lt. j.g. Michael Thompson of Twin City, Ga.
Those pilots who qualified in the T-2C "Buckeye" include:
Ensign Gregory Jonic of Ridgefield, Conn.;
Lt. j.g. Ryan McCrillis of Key West, Fla.;
Lt. j.g. Robert Wackerman of San Bernardino, Calif. and
Ensign Jason Weaver of Paradise, Calif.