By Petty Officer 3rd
Class Jamal McNeill, Navy Office of Community Outreach
NORFOLK, Va. – A 2008 Naples American High School of Italy graduate and Mansfield, Texas native is serving in the U.S. Navy with Carrier
Airborne Early Warning Squadron (VAW) 126.
Lt. Mike Lavoie works with the E-2D Advanced Hawkeye
Squadron, VAW 126, also known as “Seahawks”, operating out of Norfolk,
Virginia.
He is responsible for maintaining and monitoring the weapons
systems on the aircraft.
“My job gives me a lot responsibility," said Lavoie. "It is rewarding to
know I have an integral part of the mission’s accomplishment."
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 assets!”
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.
“The camaraderie at the command is great,” said Lavoie. “It
is a real team environment and everyone is helpful and welcoming with one
another.”
“Serving in the Navy is family tradition," added Lavoie. "It is great to be
a part of something bigger than myself and for the greater good."
The Seahawks of VAW-126 are assigned to Carrier Air Wing
ONE.