By Staff
Special to The Star
Dec. 15, 2000
NAVAL AIR STATION MERIDIAN A Naval aviator designation ceremony will be held today at 3:30 p.m. in the chapel at Naval Air Station Meridian.
The naval aviator designation ceremony is not required by regulations, but has emerged as an honored part of Naval 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 M. Benson, commander of the U.S. Atlantic Fleet's Strike Fighter Wing.
Twenty-one pilots will receive wings of gold including two from the French navy and one from the Brazilian navy.
Those officers who qualified in the T-45C "Goshawk" include:
Lt. j.g. Adan Covarrubias of Buena Park, Calif.;
Ensign Sylvain Denis of Domont, France;
Lt. Fabricio Duarte of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil;
Lt. j.g. John Eveges III of Fort Washington, Md.;
1st Lt. Dail Fields of Atlanta;
Ensign Kyle Horlacher of Rockville, Md.;
Lt. j.g. Scott Hulett of Woodland Hills, Calif.;
Capt. Michael Quinto of Pittsfield, Mass.;
1st Lt. Jamison Renaux of New Bedford, Mass.;
Lt. j.g. Luke Russell of Olympia, Wash.;
Lt. j.g. Christopher Smith of Augusta, Ga.;
1st Lt. Harry Thomas Jr. of Panama City, Fla.;
Lt. j.g. Chad Welborn of Lafayette, Ind.; and
Ensign Florent Werbrouck of Reims, France.
Those officers who qualified in the T-2 "Buckeye" include:
Ensign Thurman Antinora of Colorado Springs, Colo.;
Lt. Michael Baker of Sacramento, Calif.;
Lt. j.g. Andrew Ballinger of Baltimore, Md.;
Lt. j.g. Todd Benke of Bethesda, Md.;
Ensign Todd D'Antonio of West Chester, Pa.;
Lt. j.g. Randall Everly of Plant City, Fla.; and
Lt. j.g. Michael Zaiko of Woodbridge, Va.