By
Navy Office of Community Outreach Public Affairs
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. - A 2008 Charlotte
Catholic High School graduate and Charlotte,
North Carolina native is serving in the U.S. Navy aboard Naval Air Station
Jacksonville, the largest base in the Southeast Region and third largest in the
nation.
Lt.j.g Mark Lascara is a pilot serving with
Commander, Patrol and Reconnaissance Wing 11.
As a pilot,
Lascara is responsible for safely
operating the P8-A aircraft throughout all phases of flight operations.
“What I love most about my job is being able to fly a nine hour mission in support of my
country,” said Lascara. “It truly is a special responsibility."
According to Navy officials, Wing 11’s history and
reputation remain unparalleled since being commissioned on August 15, 1942.
Throughout the decades, Wing 11 has continued to fly combat missions in direct support of
the troops on the ground and delivered
traditional maritime capabilities, real-time intelligence, surveillance and
reconnaissance.
Beginning in the
1960s, the P-3C Orion, a land-based, long-range anti-submarine warfare patrol
aircraft, replaced the P-2V Neptune fleet. After 50 years of faithful
service and the 50th anniversary of Maritime Patrol and
Reconnaissance Force, the P-3C Orion is being phased out of the fleet,
according to Navy officials.
The P-8A is a modified Boeing airframe
featuring a fully connected, state-of-the-art, open architecture mission system
designed for long-range anti-submarine warfare; anti-surface warfare; and
intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance missions, Navy officials
explained.
"The U.S. Navy sometimes asks the
impossible of our people. It is sailors that make the impossible possible,”
said Capt. Anthony Corapi, Commodore, Patrol and Reconnaissance Wing 11. “Lt.j.g
Lascara is one example of a selfless
servant of our nation. These heroes ask
for very little recognition and perform their daily job with pride and
professionalism defending freedom and our way of life around the world. Each member of the Navy's combat team is
crucial to our success. I am very proud to have Lt.j.g
Lascara on our team!"
Lascara
is part of a crew that began a transition to the P-8A Poseidon and is preparing for a deployment in the future.
“This command
has great camaraderie," said Lascara. "We work well together as a team throughout all levels to
complete the mission."
According to Navy officials, the Navy
continues to meet milestone after milestone on this world-class mission and is
providing an aircraft with superior capabilities to the men and women in
uniform that will have a lasting legacy promoting a global maritime strategy.
“Serving in the Navy I've learned a great amount of responsibility,” said
Lascara. “Knowing that I'm in charge of safely managing my crew and operating
aircraft in dynamic environments is a level of responsibilty that most 26 year
olds do not have.”