By
Navy Office of Community Outreach Public Affairs
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. - A 2011 Killingly
High School graduate and Danielson, Connecticut 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.
Petty Officer 2nd Class Jessica Lewis is an intelligence
specialist serving with Commander, Patrol and Reconnaissance Wing 11.
A Navy intelligence
specialist is responsible for gathering
and analyzing information then distributing it to the aircrew to ensure that
they are aware of any threats around.
“My job
is great because of responsibility that I have,” said Lewis. “I have a sense of
pride knowing that my job directly ensures the safety of the flight crew.”
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. “Petty Officer
Lewis 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 Petty Officer Lewis on
our team!"
Lewis
is part of a crew that began a transition to the P-8A Poseidon and is preparing for deployment in the future.
“This
command allows me to interact with a diverse group of people and build a bond
that is different than anywhere else,” said Lewis.
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.
“I have
gained confidence in myself since joining the Navy,” said Lewis. “I am more
assure of my talents in my job and as a person.”