By Staff
Special to The Star
June 22, 2001
A Naval aviator designation ceremony will be held today at 3:30 p.m. in the chapel at Naval Air Station Meridian.
The ceremony is not required by regulations, but has emerged as part of U.S. Navy tradition. It marks the culmination of nearly two years of specialized training, which has prepared 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. David Bernhard, commander of Training Air Wing One.
Twenty-three U.S. Navy and Marine Corps pilots will receive wings of gold.
Wingees who carrier qualified in the T-45C "Goshawk" include:
Lt. j.g. Curtis Chance of Sand Springs, Okla.
Lt. j.g. Russell Crawford of Dallas
Lt. j.g. David Dequeljoe of New York City
1st Lt. James Glackin of Wilmington, Del.
1st Lt. William Harvey of Hicksville, N.Y.
Lt. j.g. Gregory Kausner of Sparta, N.J.
Lt. j.g. Jason Mendenhall of Wichita, Kan.
Lt. j.g. Dennis Metz of Ridgecrest, Calif.
Lt. j.g. Matthew Morton of San Diego, Calif.
Lt. j.g. Michael Mullen of Manhattan Beach, Calif.
Lt. j.g. Matthew Stoll of Toms River, N.J.
Lt. Michael Toribio of San Jose, Calif.
1st Lt. Matthew Walker of Kremmling, Colo.
Lt. j.g. Michael Wilson of New Port Richey, Fla.
Lt. j.g. Peter Zubof of Richmond, Va.
Wingees who carrier qualified in the T-2C "Buckeye" include:
Lt. j.g. Jason Bartholomew of Anchorage, Alaska
Lt. j.g. James Bender of Palmer, Alaska
Lt. j.g. Patrick Dziekan of Ellison Bay, Wis.
Lt. j.g. Christopher Muldoon of Anderson, S.C.
Lt. Stephen Ramirez of Farmers Branch, Texas
Lt. j.g. Jeffrey Reynolds of Raleigh, N.C.
Lt. j.g. Joseph Slaughter II of Winona Lake, Ind.
Lt. j.g. Emerson Stearns of Colstrip, Mo.