VAW-116 earns Top Hook

The pilots of Carrier Airborne Command and Control Squadron (VAW) 116 pose with the Top Hook Award.

Photo by Lt. Todd D. Fowler / VAW-116

The pilots of Carrier Airborne Command and Control Squadron (VAW) 116 pose with the Top Hook Award.

Flanking Ensign Jayson Belmes as he hold his Hawkeye Maintenance Officer of the Year Award are, from left, Lt. Cmdr. Matthew Ventimiglia, maintenance officer; Lt. Cmdr. Paul Meyer, quality assurance officer; Lt. Cmdr. Michael Dagdagan, assistant maintenance officer; and Cmdr. Paul Dale, commanding officer.

Photo by Lt. Todd D. Fowler / VAW-116

Flanking Ensign Jayson Belmes as he hold his Hawkeye Maintenance Officer of the Year Award are, from left, Lt. Cmdr. Matthew Ventimiglia, maintenance officer; Lt. Cmdr. Paul Meyer, quality assurance officer; Lt. Cmdr. Michael Dagdagan, assistant maintenance officer; and Cmdr. Paul Dale, commanding officer.

The Sun Kings of Carrier Airborne Early Warning Squadron (VAW) 116 earned the coveted West Coast E-2C Top Hook Squadron of the Year Award at the 43rd annual Hawkeye Ball Sept. 23.

The event recognizes the successes of the past year for squadrons that conduct flight operations in the Navy’s E-2C Hawkeye aircraft.

Presented by Capt. Matthew Danehy, Commander Airborne Command Control and Logistics Wing (COMACCLOGWING), the award recognizes VAW-116 for its aircraft landing performance while aboard USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN 72) during Composite Training Unit Exercise (COMPTUEX) in October 2011 and deployment in support of Operation Enduring Freedom from December 2011 to August 2012.

Each time a pilot lands on the carrier, the pass is evaluated and graded on a 4.0 scale. The average grade of all the landings for each pilot in each squadron determines the overall squadron landing grade point average (GPA) and boarding rate. The squadron with the best GPA earns the title of Top Hook.

VAW-116 achieved a 3.45 landing average and a 97.1 percent boarding rate, the best of the squadrons.

Additionally, several individuals from VAW-116 were recognized at the ball. Ensign Jayson Belmes was selected as Hawkeye Maintenance Officer of the Year for his accomplishments and leadership as Maintenance Material Control Officer (MMCO).

“While I am honored to receive this award, I have to give credit to the Sun King maintenance team,” said Belmes. “The success this squadron has exhibited is not only a result of my efforts, but the absolutely impressive achievements the members of this squadron continue to make from day to day.”

Receiving honorable mentions at the event were Lt. Chad Van Keulen for his nomination as Hawkeye Pilot of the Year and Lt. Toby Rollenhagen for his nomination as Hawkeye Naval Flight Officer of the Year.

© 2012 Ventura County Star. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

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Commanding Officer

CAPT. LARRY VASQUEZ

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CAPT. DAVID SASEK

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ANDREA HOWRY, 805-989-5281

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Naval Surface Warfare Center, Port Hueneme Division (NSWC PHD) hosted an international forum on the MK 41 Vertical Launching System (VLS), April 16-19. Through this annual conference, NSWC PHD shares information regarding the latest logistics and in-service engineering technology with eight allied nations. In addition, Port Hueneme hoped to promote an open line of communication across nations by making this information available for all invited.
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