By
Navy Office of Community Outreach Public Affairs
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. - A 2005 Arundel
High School graduate and Crofton,
Maryland 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. Brad Pendock is a pilot serving
with Commander, Patrol and Reconnaissance Wing 11.
As a pilot,
Pendock is not only responsible for flying
aircraft but he’s also a mission commander, which entails the overall safety
and decision making of the crew.
“I enjoy
the flying aspect of the job and the tactical decision making that is crucial
to the command's mission effectiveness,” said Pendock.
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. Pendock 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.
Pendock on our team!"
Pendock
is part of a crew that began a transition to the P-8A Poseidon and is preparing for deployment in the future.
“I love
the people at this command, everyone is dedicated to their jobs and the camaraderie is exceptional,” said Pendock.
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.
“The
core values instilled upon me by the Navy has mirrored the lessons taught by my
parents, coaches and teachers,” said Pendock. “It has enabled me to become a
more effective leader of sailors.”