Photo by Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Tim Miller
LEMOORE, Calif.- A 2005 Colbert Heights High School graduate and Tuscumbia, Alabama, native is currently serving with a U.S. Navy strike fighter squadron which flies one of the world’s most advanced warplanes.
Ensign Dusty Alsbrooks is an admin officer with the Top Hatters of VFA 14, which operates out of Naval Air Station Lemoore. A Navy admin officer is responsible for the pay, leave and command directives for all the sailors in the command. “I learned to be hard worker coming from humble beginnings, which pushed me to want to be more and see more,” Alsbrooks said. “I came in as an enlisted sailor and worked my way up to chief. I was selected for commissioning in 2016.”
Members of VFA 14 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.”
Alsbrooks has military ties with family members who have previously served and is honored to carry on the family tradition.
“My grandpa was in the Army National Guard; and my dad was in the Air Force and my uncle was in the Army,” said Alsbrooks. “My uncle and grandpa influenced my decision. My uncle was a Ranger and was recalled during the second Gulf War.”
Alsbrooks likes a lot about this command and has enjoyed seeing a new side of the Navy.
“It is different from my last command,” said Alsbrooks. “It is cool to go from surface ships to the aviation side. Each community is unique in its own way.”
As a member of one of the U.S. Navy’s most relied-upon assets, Alsbrooks 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 gives me the opportunity to be involved in something bigger than myself and give my kids more than what I had,” Alsbrooks said.
Alsbrooks has military ties with family members who have previously served and is honored to carry on the family tradition.
“My grandpa was in the Army National Guard; and my dad was in the Air Force and my uncle was in the Army,” said Alsbrooks. “My uncle and grandpa influenced my decision. My uncle was a Ranger and was recalled during the second Gulf War.”
Alsbrooks likes a lot about this command and has enjoyed seeing a new side of the Navy.
“It is different from my last command,” said Alsbrooks. “It is cool to go from surface ships to the aviation side. Each community is unique in its own way.”
As a member of one of the U.S. Navy’s most relied-upon assets, Alsbrooks 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 gives me the opportunity to be involved in something bigger than myself and give my kids more than what I had,” Alsbrooks said.