By
Navy Office of Community Outreach Public Affairs
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. - A 2009 South
Colonie Central High School graduate and Schenectady, 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 j.g. Evan Gordon is a pilot serving
with Commander, Patrol and Reconnaissance Wing 11.
A Navy pilot is responsible for maintaining
qualifications and the safety of the crew and the aircraft.
“Whether I am
planning a reconnaissance mission or searching an area for underwater threats,
the lives of the people onboard the aircraft is my main concern,” said Gordon.
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. Gordon 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. Gordon on our team!"
Gordon is part of a crew that is transitioning to the P-8A Poseidon and preparing for deployment in the future.
“Since arriving a few days ago, the
command has been very helpful and informative as far as welcoming me to the
command,” said
Gordon.
“I look
forward to working with the people and developing the crew relationship.”
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 that adaptability and being flexible is key since we work all hours and I make life work around
that,” said Gordon.