By
Navy Office of Community Outreach Public Affairs
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. - A 2007 Pittsford
Mendon High School graduate and Rochester,
New York 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. Eric Brugler is a pilot serving
with Commander, Patrol and Reconnaissance Wing 11.
As a pilot,
Brugler is responsible for the safety of the
crew, aircraft and flight operations.
“I love
the flying aspect of my job and the sense of pride serving my country,”
said Brugler.
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. Brugler 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.
Brugler on our team!"
Brugler
“I really enjoy working at this command
because of the camaraderie I have amongst my
fellow shipmates,” said Brugler. “It's a real tight-knit group, a great family
atmosphere.”
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, I've learned to fly different aircraft and operational
oceanography,” added Brugler.