By Petty Officer 3rd
Class Jamal McNeill, Navy Office of Community Outreach
NORFOLK, Va. – A 2013 Southside High School graduate and
Muncie, Indiana native is serving in the U.S. Navy with Carrier Airborne Early
Warning Squadron (VAW) 126.
Petty Officer 3rd Class Matthew Rooney works with the E-2D
Advanced Hawkeye Squadron, VAW 126, also known as “Seahawks”, operating out of
Norfolk, Virginia.
He is responsible for general correspondence and proper
communication of documents for the command.
“I enjoy that my job follows an instruction manual so there is
no grey area,” said Rooney. “Everything is cut and dry and it makes my job a
lot easier.”
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.
“I enjoy the operational aspect of this command,” said
Rooney. “Being able to understand the capabilities of the Hawkeye is really
amazing.”
“Serving in the Navy gives me a feeling that I am making an
impact on the world and not going through life doing things just to do it,”
added Rooney. “My job and life has a purpose.”
The Seahawks of VAW-126 are assigned to Carrier Air Wing
ONE.