STENNIS, Ms. – Most Americans rely on weather forecasts to plan their daily routine. The U.S. Navy is no different. With numerous ships, submarines and airplanes deployed around the world, sailors and civilians serving with the Naval Meteorology and Oceanography Command at Stennis Space Center, Mississippi, advise Navy leaders about the impact of ocean and atmospheric conditions on future operations.
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| Photo by Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Heidi Cheek |
Kevin LaCroix, a native of Vero Beach, Florida, is one of those responsible for providing timely, comprehensive and tactically relevant information for ships, submarines, aircraft and other commands operating throughout the globe.
As the acting, assistant chief of staff for Capabilities, Requirements, Concepts and Experiments, LaCroix is responsible for bringing operational ready tools and technology to crews at sea and ashore to commands world-wide.
LaCroix credits success in the Navy to many of the lessons learned growing up in Vero Beach.
“The weather is really important for everyone's day-to-day life, so putting my knowledge of paying attention to the water growing up has helped me gain the motivation to do what I do now,” said LaCroix.
A key element of the Navy the nation needs is tied to the fact that America is a maritime nation, according to Navy officials, and that the nation’s prosperity is tied to the ability to operate freely on the world’s oceans. More than 70 percent of the Earth’s surface is covered by water; 80 percent of the world’s population lives close to a coast; and 90 percent of all global trade by volume travels by sea.
“Naval Oceanography defines and applies the physical environment for the entire Navy fleet from the bottom of the ocean to the stars,” said Rear Adm. John Okon, Commander, Naval Meteorology and Oceanography Command. “There isn't a plane that flies, a ship or a submarine that gets underway without the sailors and civilians of Naval Oceanography.”
LaCroix 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.”
Though there are many ways to earn distinction in a command, community and career, LaCroix is most proud of receiving a meritorious service medal.
“I earned that because the wind satellite I worked on kept the only U.S. owned microwave satellite that measures wind speed and direction for tropical storms and hurricanes operational,” said LaCroix.
Serving in the Navy is a continuing tradition of military service for LaCroix, who has military ties with family members who have previously served. Lacroix is honored to carry on that family tradition.
“My dad was in the Air Force,” said LaCroix. “He was enlisted and he told me to make sure I became an officer and I did just that.”
As a member of one of the U.S. Navy’s most relied upon assets, LaCroix and other members know they are part of a legacy that will last beyond their lifetimes providing the Navy the nation needs.
"Serving with the Navy means when I wake up in the morning that the sailor out at sea knows that someone is back home having their back so that they can get the job done,” added LaCroix. “I like this duty station because the world wide mission we have is really good and I feel like I can impact the sailors we have going out there by providing them with new technology to get their jobs done.”
As the acting, assistant chief of staff for Capabilities, Requirements, Concepts and Experiments, LaCroix is responsible for bringing operational ready tools and technology to crews at sea and ashore to commands world-wide.
LaCroix credits success in the Navy to many of the lessons learned growing up in Vero Beach.
“The weather is really important for everyone's day-to-day life, so putting my knowledge of paying attention to the water growing up has helped me gain the motivation to do what I do now,” said LaCroix.
A key element of the Navy the nation needs is tied to the fact that America is a maritime nation, according to Navy officials, and that the nation’s prosperity is tied to the ability to operate freely on the world’s oceans. More than 70 percent of the Earth’s surface is covered by water; 80 percent of the world’s population lives close to a coast; and 90 percent of all global trade by volume travels by sea.
“Naval Oceanography defines and applies the physical environment for the entire Navy fleet from the bottom of the ocean to the stars,” said Rear Adm. John Okon, Commander, Naval Meteorology and Oceanography Command. “There isn't a plane that flies, a ship or a submarine that gets underway without the sailors and civilians of Naval Oceanography.”
LaCroix 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.”
Though there are many ways to earn distinction in a command, community and career, LaCroix is most proud of receiving a meritorious service medal.
“I earned that because the wind satellite I worked on kept the only U.S. owned microwave satellite that measures wind speed and direction for tropical storms and hurricanes operational,” said LaCroix.
Serving in the Navy is a continuing tradition of military service for LaCroix, who has military ties with family members who have previously served. Lacroix is honored to carry on that family tradition.
“My dad was in the Air Force,” said LaCroix. “He was enlisted and he told me to make sure I became an officer and I did just that.”
As a member of one of the U.S. Navy’s most relied upon assets, LaCroix and other members know they are part of a legacy that will last beyond their lifetimes providing the Navy the nation needs.
"Serving with the Navy means when I wake up in the morning that the sailor out at sea knows that someone is back home having their back so that they can get the job done,” added LaCroix. “I like this duty station because the world wide mission we have is really good and I feel like I can impact the sailors we have going out there by providing them with new technology to get their jobs done.”