Photo by Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Tim Miller
LEMOORE, Calif.- A 2014 East Hardy High School graduate and Wardensville, West Virginia, 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 Marilyn Cassell is an aviation electronics technician with the Warhawks of VFA 97, which operates out of Naval Air Station Lemoore. A Navy aviation electronics technician is responsible for handling all avionics equipment on the aircraft including weapons systems, electronic warfare, radar, and aircraft landing systems. “Growing up in Wardensville, I was raised to work hard,” Cassell said. “I have always earned everything I achieve in the Navy.”
Members of VFA 97 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.”
Cassell has military ties with family members who have previously served and is honored to carry on the family tradition.
“My sister is in the Army and my parents were both in the Army,” said Cassell. “For me, growing up, serving was really the only thing you heard about in the house. Everyone in my family went Army so I chose Navy to do something different.”
Cassell is also proud of earning an Aviation Warfare Pin for becoming qualified in Naval aviation.
As a member of one of the U.S. Navy’s most relied-upon assets, Cassell 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 is an opportunity to serve my country,” Cassell said. “I like that I can say that I serve. It is rooted deep in my family to serve. It makes me happy.”