by Navy Office of Community Outreach
(MAYPORT, Fla.) – A 2005 Cuyahoga Falls High School graduate
and Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio native is serving with a U.S. Navy helicopter squadron
that flies the Navy’s newest and most technologically-advanced helicopter.
Petty Officer 2nd Class Andrew Curtis is an aviation
electronics technician with the “Vipers” of Helicopter Maritime Strike Squadron
(HSM) 48, a Mayport, Florida based squadron that operates the Navy’s next generation
submarine hunter and anti-surface warfare helicopter, the MH-60R Seahawk. Each
helicopter is nearly 65 feet long, may weigh up to 23,500 lbs. (max gross) and
can travel over 120 miles per hour for nearly 320 miles on a tank of gas.
As an aviation electronics technician, Curtis is responsible
for maintenance of the electrical systems of the MH-60R helicopter.
“I have always loved aircraft, even before I was in the Navy,”
said Curtis. “And now the Navy gives me the opportunity to work on helicopters
for a living.”
According to Navy officials, the MH-60R is the most capable
multi-mission helicopter available in the world today. It is used for a variety
of missions, including hunting and tracking enemy submarines, attacking enemy
ships, search and rescue, drug interdiction, delivering supplies and supporting
the Navy’s special operations forces.
It is replacing the Navy’s older helicopters because of its
greater versatility and more advanced weapon systems.
Curtis said he and other HSM-48 sailors are proud to be part
of a warfighting team that readily defends America at all times.
“I like that the command really takes care of us here,” said
Curtis. “As a junior sailor it is important to have a command that you can
count on.”
Sailors’ jobs are highly varied within the squadron.
Approximately 270 Navy men and women are assigned and keep all parts of the
squadron running smoothly. This includes everything from maintaining
helicopter airframes and engines, to processing paperwork, handling weapons and
flying the aircraft.
“The thing I love the most about being a part of this great
organization are the people,” said Cmdr. Jeff Hill, HSM-48’s commanding officer. “The level of commitment and
professionalism by every member of Viper Nation is second to none. But more importantly, they represent what’s
best about our nation and the generation of American’s dedicating their lives
to something bigger. Dedicating themselves
to making a difference. Because at the
end of the day, that’s what we do in Viper Nation, it’s what we do in the Navy,
we make a difference.”
Serving in the Navy, Curtis is learning about being a more
respectable leader, sailor and person through handling numerous
responsibilities.
"The Navy has taught me work ethic and it has taught me
both personal and professional accountability, not to mention every skill you
could possibly need in the real world,” said Curtis.