By
Navy Office of Community Outreach Public Affairs
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. - A 2000 Pymatuing
Valley High School graduate and Jacksonville, Florida 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 Joseph Wondolowski is an aviation ordnanceman serving with Commander,
Patrol and Reconnaissance Wing 11.
A Navy aviation ordnanceman is
responsible for uploading and downloading conventional ordnance.
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 Wondolowski 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 Wondolowski on our
team!"
Wondolowski is part of a crew that began
transitioning to the P-8A Poseidon and is preparing for deployment in the future.
“What I have noticed in serving here at
VP-26 is that the mindset is taking care of the sailor so the sailor can do a
better job in meeting mission objectives,” said Wondolowski.
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 learned a lot about the military
in general since I have worked for all branches," said Wondoloswki. "The Navy has taught me to be a
better person and to respect my family and the military family."