By Kayla Good,
Navy Office of Community Outreach
NORFOLK, Va. – A 2009 Sweet Home High School
graduate and Buffalo, New York native is serving in the U.S.
Navy with Carrier Airborne Early Warning Squadron (VAW) 126.
Petty Officer 3rd Class Andrew Frontera works with the E-2D Advanced
Hawkeye Squadron, VAW 126, also known as “Seahawks”, operating out of Norfolk,
Virginia.
He
is responsible for working on the hydraulic systems of the aircraft as well as
body work and painting.
“I
enjoy the diversity of the maintenance that
comes along with the job,” said Frontera. “You never see the same thing every
day.”
The primary mission of VAW-126 is to provide mission-ready
and combat-ready E-2D aircraft and capable aircrew wherever needed, on time,
and safely.
As the newest variant of the E-2 aircraft platform, the E-2D
Advanced Hawkeye serves as the most advanced command and control aircraft in the Navy and features a state-of
the-art radar with more capabilities and upgraded aircraft systems that
improves the combat effectiveness of a
carrier air wing and carrier strike group..
In addition to airborne early warning mission, the E-2D
provides a variety of capabilities to the carrier strike group, including
search and rescue operations, data link, communications relay, strike control,
close air support coordination, and drug interdiction.
”The sailors of VAW-126 are
integral to the successful employment of the E-2D Advanced Hawkeye,” said Cmdr.
Scott Wastak, Commanding Officer VAW-126. “Without their meticulous attention
to detail and dedication to the mission, the Hawkeye would be unable to perform
its mission and meet our nation’s call to duty.
Our sailors are truly our most valuable asset!”
With a crew of nearly 150 sailors, jobs
are highly specialized and designed to keep each part of the Hawkeye running
smoothly. Whether training new aviators,
maintaining airframes and engines, processing paperwork, or handling and flying
the aircraft, the key to success is teamwork.
“I like the people I work with,” said Frontera. “I like
working with everyone because we all get along. We all work together to keep
the aircraft up for flight status to be mission ready on time.”
“Serving
in the Navy is a way to provide a great standard and honor towards our
country,” added Frontera. “It provides a better outlook of how foreign
dignitaries look at their military standard. We work with them and we are all
able to compare what works best.”
The Seahawks of VAW-126 are assigned to Carrier Air Wing
ONE.