by Lt. Wesley Holzapfel, Navy Office of Community Outreach
Photo by Mass Communication
Specialist 1st Class Robert Zahn
(MAYPORT, Fla.) – A 1990 Saint
Augustine High School graduate
and New
Orleans, Louisiana native is serving with a U.S. Navy
helicopter squadron that flies the Navy’s newest and most
technologically-advanced helicopter.
Command Master Chief
Robert Florentino is serving with the “Airwolves” of Helicopter Maritime Strike Squadron
(HSM) 40, a Mayport, Florida based
squadron that operates the Navy’s next generation submarine hunter and
Anti-Surface Warfare helicopter, the MH-60R Seahawk. Each helicopter is nearly
65 feet long, may weigh up to 23,500 lbs. (max gross) and can travel over 120
miles per hour for nearly 320 miles on a tank of gas.
As command master chief, Florentino is responsible for serving as part
of the executive leadership for the squadron - essentially a CEO for the enlisted
Sailors.
“Growing up in New Orleans
was very rough,” said Florentino. “However, growing up there taught me how to
stay focused and it really helped me strive for success. In addition to those
struggles, my mother and father came from the Dominican Republic. My father barely
knew any English. Adjusting to New Orleans life versus Spanish life taught me
to never give up and to strive for the best.”
According to Navy officials, the MH-60R is the most capable
multi-mission helicopter available in the world today. It is used for a variety
of missions, including hunting and tracking enemy submarines, attacking enemy
ships, search and rescue, drug interdiction, delivering supplies and supporting
the Navy’s special operations forces.
It is replacing the Navy’s older helicopters because of its
greater versatility and more advanced weapon systems.
Florentino said they are proud to be part of a warfighting team that
readily defends America at all times.
“I believe I am the first
from my high school to become a command master chief in the U.S. Navy - not
only making it to the rank of master chief petty officer, but also being
selected as a command master chief,” said Florentino. “It's an honor and a
privilege to serve in this role. I always try to instill in my sailors
what my father instilled in me: it’s not always about me – it’s about
motivating my team and inspiring each sailor to be their best. Even though I've reached the top of my Navy career,
I'm still not satisfied. There's still so much that I want to do.”
Sailors’ jobs are
highly varied within the squadron. Approximately 297 Navy men and women are
assigned and keep all parts of the squadron running smoothly. This
includes everything from maintaining helicopter airframes and engines, to
processing paperwork, handling weapons and flying the aircraft.
Serving in the Navy, Florentino is learning about being a more
respectable leader, Sailor and person through handling numerous
responsibilities.
“Serving in the military
is about being a part of something bigger than me,” said Florentino. “It's about giving my
life for any and everyone in our great country of America. It's about showing
the young generation that there is success in everything that you do. There is
tremendous success in serving our country.”