Port Richey, Fla. Native Keeps Navy Wing Flying

 By Navy Office of Community Outreach Public Affairs

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. - A 2007 Hudson High School graduate and Port 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 1st Class Joel Cooper is an aviation maintenance administrationman serving with Commander, Patrol and Reconnaissance Wing 11.

A Navy aviation maintenance administrationman is responsible for clerical, administrative and managerial duties to keep aircraft maintenance activities running efficiently. 

“The best part of my job is training someone and seeing them grasp the knowledge," said Cooper. "It’s all about mentoring sailors. I supervise eight people that tracks the life plan of the aircraft to include every maintenance action, every light bulb used, every new tire, you name it we track it."

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 Cooper 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 Cooper on our team!"

Cooper 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.

“The best part of working for this command is the operational tempo that is easy on home life and work life,” said Cooper. "I also like the opportunity to work with new technology on this aircraft.”

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 Navy has taught me discipline and has given me structure in my life,” said Cooper.