Photo by Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Tim Miller
LEMOORE, Calif.- A 1999 East Central Senior High School graduate and Tulsa, Oklahoma, native is currently serving with a U.S. Navy strike fighter squadron which flies one of the world’s most advanced warplanes.
Chief Petty Officer Darin Garrett is an aviation administrationman with the Kestrels of VFA 137, which operates out of Naval Air Station Lemoore. A Navy aviation administrationman is responsible for F-18 Super Hornets’ maintenance in areas such as scheduled and unscheduled maintenance and acts as the logs and records manager for all associated paperwork. “The drive to serve our nation comes from my humble beginnings,” Garrett said. “The time as a young adult spent in Tulsa has prepared me to tackle the toughest job because of teachers and mentors that helped shape me into the leader I am today.”
Members of VFA 137 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.
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.”
Garrett has military ties with family members who have previously served and is honored to carry on the family tradition.
“My older brother Michael served in the Navy for 14 years,” said Garrett. “He is the reason I joined. I always looked up to him. I saw how much he enjoyed it and that's why I always wanted to join.”
Garrett is also proud of making the rank of chief petty officer.
As a member of one of the U.S. Navy’s most relied-upon assets, Garrett and other sailors know they are part of a legacy that will last beyond their lifetimes providing the Navy the nation needs.
“Serving our nation allows me the chance to give back and be a part of something greater than myself,” Garrett said.