By
Navy Office of Community Outreach Public Affairs
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. - A 2007 Shoreham
Wading River High School graduate and Wading
River, 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. Thomas Verbeeck is a pilot serving with Commander, Patrol and Reconnaissance Wing
11.
As a pilot,
Verbeeck is responsible for the safe
flight of aircraft, navigation and organizing flight plans and missions.
“What I enjoy most about my job is working with proficient and motivated sailors,”
said Verbeeck.
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. Verbeeck 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.
Verbeeck on our team!"
Verbeeck
is part of a crew that began a transition to the P-8A Poseidon and is preparing for deployment in the future.
“This command has a tight-knit family atmosphere," said Verbeeck. "I enjoy the camaraderie I have amongst my fellow crew."
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 that patience is a virtue and it's
important to trust those below you as well as above you,” said Verbeeck. “Given
time, people will surprise you with the results of their hardwork.”