By Kayla Good,
Navy Office of Community Outreach
NORFOLK, Va. – A 1997 La Mirada High School
graduate and La Mirada, California native is serving in the U.S.
Navy with Carrier Airborne Early Warning Squadron (VAW) 126.
Chief Petty Officer Andy Sutherland works with the E-2D Advanced
Hawkeye Squadron, VAW 126, also known as “Seahawks”, operating out of Norfolk,
Virginia.
He
is the leading chief petty officer in charge of the aircraft division
and quality assurance.
“Helping people and serving my coutnry is a great
opportunity,” said Sutherland.
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.
“We go above and beyond to help our people at this
command,” said Sutherland. “We are pretty close knit and work well together. We
know alot about each other because we care.”
“I have
served in the Navy for 18 years,” added
Sutherland. “There is a lot to it. It’s
a duty, service, volunteerism and sacrifice.”
The Seahawks of VAW-126 are assigned to Carrier Air Wing
ONE.