Santa Maria Native serves with Navy Strike Fighter Squadron

By Kayla Turnbow, Navy Office of Community Outreach

Photo by Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Tim Miller

LEMOORE, Calif.- A 2005 Santa Maria High School graduate and Santa Maria, California, native is currently serving with a U.S. Navy strike fighter squadron which flies one of the world’s most advanced warplanes.

Petty Officer 2nd Class Don Bautista is an aviation structural mechanic with the Fighting Redcocks of VFA 22, which operates out of Naval Air Station Lemoore. A Navy aviation structural mechanic is responsible for maintaining hydraulics and the structural airframe of the aircraft.

“I grew up wanting to see the world,” Bautista said. “I wanted to be able to go to school, as well as get out of my hometown. So I knew the Navy would give me that opportunity.”

Members of VFA 22 work with the F/A 18 Super Hornet, one of the most advanced aircraft in the world. The Super Hornet takes off from and lands on Navy aircraft carriers at sea and is capable of conducting air-to-air combat as well as striking targets on land. It is approximately 61 feet long, has a loaded weight of 51,000 lbs., and a max speed of 1,190 miles per hour.

“The communication in our squadron really is top notch,” said Bautista. “It makes for a really good working environment.”

Operating from sea aboard aircraft carriers, the Super Hornet gives the Navy the power to protect America’s interests anywhere, at any time. The versatile jet has the ability to destroy targets located hundreds of miles inland, without the need to get another country’s permission to operate within its borders.

“Strike Fighter Wing, U. S. Pacific Fleet, based at Naval Air Station Lemoore, California, is the heart of Naval Aviation,” said Capt. James S. Bates, Deputy Commodore, Strike Fighter Wing, U.S. Pacific. “The sailors assigned to SFWP always exceed expectations and produce amazing results through team work and dedication to their department, squadron, the U.S. Navy and their family. Naval Aviation is a challenging occupation, but our sailors work day in and day out to provide fully mission capable aircraft and fully qualified aircrew to ensure leadership is able to answer national level tasking. I am humbled to be able to lead the sailors of SFWP and I am proud to call Lemoore my home.”

As a member of one of the U.S. Navy’s most relied-upon assets, Bautista and other sailors know they are part of a legacy that will last beyond their lifetimes providing the Navy the nation needs.

“Serving in the Navy means a lot to me,” Bautista said. “I wanted to serve the United States so that those who couldn't fight for us would be safe.”