By
Navy Office of Community Outreach Public Affairs
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. - A 2008 River Ridge
High School graduate and Newport Richey,
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 Alex Hamilton is an intelligence
specialist serving with Commander, Patrol and Reconnaissance Wing 11.
As an intelligence
specialist, Hamilton manages the
collection, explotation and dissemenation of data gathered during intelligence surveillance and reconnaissance flights.
“What I enjoy most about my job is seeing first-hand from start to finish the aircrafts
complete their missions effectively and efficently,” said Hamilton.
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
Hamilton 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 Hamilton
on our team!"
Hamilton
is part of a crew that began a transition to the P-8A Poseidon and is preparing for deployment in the future.
“I enjoy
going on deployments with the command and getting the opportunity to travel and
experience different cultures and people,” said Hamilton. “I get a sense of
satisfication knowing that I am part of a team that helps accomplish various
missions and operations.”
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 morals,
values and principles instilled in me while serving in the Navy has made me a
better overall person both professionally and personally,” said
Hamilton.