(MAYPORT, Fla.) – A 2005 Houston County High School graduate and Warner Robins, Georgia native is serving with a U.S. Navy helicopter squadron that flies the Navy’s newest and most technologically-advanced helicopter.
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| Photo by Senior Chief Petty Officer Gary Ward |
Petty Officer 2nd Class Kristina (Steele) Thomas credits much of their success from lessons they learned growing up in Warner Robins.
“Growing in in Warner Robins taught me the importance of helping people understand their potential,” said Thomas. "I use that everyday in my Navy service."
Thomas is a 2017 graduate of Florida State College with an associates degree in language arts.
Thomas is an aircrew survival equipmentman with the “Airwolves” of Helicopter Maritime Strike Squadron 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 an aircrew survival equipmentman, Thomas is responsible for the life saving equipment aboard naval aircraft.
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.
Thomas is now a part of a long-standing tradition of serving in the Navy our nation needs.
“My grandfather retired from the Army,” said Thomas. "I saw the opporunities the Navy provided and knew they would be able to help me to continue to grow in my professional career."
Thomas said they are proud to be part of a warfighting team that readily defends America at all times.
“My proudest Navy accomplishment is being an E-5 over managing a program that had a perfect record for our mission safety and informing people on proper procedures for the Naval aircraft,” said Thomas.
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.
Thomas is playing an important part in America’s focus on rebuilding military readiness, strengthening alliances and reforming business practices in support of the National Defense Strategy.
“Our priorities center on people, capabilities and processes, and will be achieved by our focus on speed, value, results and partnerships,” said Secretary of the Navy Richard V. Spencer. “Readiness, lethality and modernization are the requirements driving these priorities.”
As a member of one of the U.S. Navy’s most relied upon capital assets, Thomas and other sailors know they are part of a legacy that will last beyond their lifetimes.
Serving in the Navy, Thomas is learning about being a more respectable leader, Sailor and person through handling numerous responsibilities.
“Serving in the Navy means providing for my family and my mother,” said Thomas. "It's sacrifice for the betterment of the country."
“Growing in in Warner Robins taught me the importance of helping people understand their potential,” said Thomas. "I use that everyday in my Navy service."
Thomas is a 2017 graduate of Florida State College with an associates degree in language arts.
Thomas is an aircrew survival equipmentman with the “Airwolves” of Helicopter Maritime Strike Squadron 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 an aircrew survival equipmentman, Thomas is responsible for the life saving equipment aboard naval aircraft.
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.
Thomas is now a part of a long-standing tradition of serving in the Navy our nation needs.
“My grandfather retired from the Army,” said Thomas. "I saw the opporunities the Navy provided and knew they would be able to help me to continue to grow in my professional career."
Thomas said they are proud to be part of a warfighting team that readily defends America at all times.
“My proudest Navy accomplishment is being an E-5 over managing a program that had a perfect record for our mission safety and informing people on proper procedures for the Naval aircraft,” said Thomas.
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.
Thomas is playing an important part in America’s focus on rebuilding military readiness, strengthening alliances and reforming business practices in support of the National Defense Strategy.
“Our priorities center on people, capabilities and processes, and will be achieved by our focus on speed, value, results and partnerships,” said Secretary of the Navy Richard V. Spencer. “Readiness, lethality and modernization are the requirements driving these priorities.”
As a member of one of the U.S. Navy’s most relied upon capital assets, Thomas and other sailors know they are part of a legacy that will last beyond their lifetimes.
Serving in the Navy, Thomas is learning about being a more respectable leader, Sailor and person through handling numerous responsibilities.
“Serving in the Navy means providing for my family and my mother,” said Thomas. "It's sacrifice for the betterment of the country."