By
Navy Office of Community Outreach Public Affairs
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. - A 2009 North
Allegheny High School graduate and Pittsburgh 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. Weston Henderson is a
pilot serving with Commander, Patrol and
Reconnaissance Wing 11.
As a pilot,
Henderson is responsible for flying the P-8A
Poseidon aircraft and maritime patrols.
“What I
enjoy most about my job is not only flying the Poseidons but also having the
opportunity to travel,” said Henderson.
“I also enjoy working with my fellow sailors and most importantly,
seving my country.”
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.
Henderson 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. Henderson on our team!"
Henderson
is part of a crew that began a transition to the P-8A Poseidon in 2014. Earlier
this year, squadron VP-45 entered the Inter-Deployment Readiness Cycle in
preparation for their first deployment as a P-8A squadron.
“I enjoy serving at this command
because it has a great family atmosphere and
there is excellent camaraderie amongst all the sailors here,” said Henderson.
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 has not only taught me how to be a pilot, but it’s taught me great
leadership skills and good decision-making,” said Henderson.