Indianapolis Native Gathers Intelligence from the Air for U.S. Navy

By Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Jackson G. Brown, Navy Office of Community Outreach

OAK HARBOR, Wash. – Chief Petty Officer Scott Rebennack, a native of Indianapolis, was inspired to join the Navy by his grandmother.

Photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Emilia Hilliard

“She lived through the era of World War II,” Rebennack said. “My grandfather was a PBY pilot, and my grandmother has a 12 foot tall Statue of Liberty in her front yard, so I grew up around her patriotism, and that rubs off pretty easy on me.”

Now, 10 years after joining the Navy, Rebennack serves with the “World Watchers” of Fleet Air Reconnaissance Squadron One (VQ-1), working with the Navy’s premier intelligence-gathering aircraft at Naval Air Station Whidbey Island, Washington.

“Life stays busy, challenging and rewarding,” said Rebennack.

Rebennack is a logistics specialist with VQ-1, a state-of-the-art intelligence-gathering squadron flying the EP-3 “Aires,” a variant of the venerable P-3C “Orion.”

“I make sure things get from one place to another and expedite the speed of such processes,” said Rebennack.

Rebennack credits success in the Navy to many of the lessons learned in Indianapolis.

“I learned the value of hard work,” said Rebennack. “Working hard pays off almost anywhere. In the Navy there's a greater purpose, cause and sense of accomplishment than you'd have if you were in any other profession.”

Members of VQ-1 conduct reconnaissance as well as intelligence-gathering missions. They deploy around the world to monitor the world’s oceans wherever they are needed.

The EP-3 “Aires” is a land-based, long-range, signals intelligence-gathering aircraft. It is a variant of the P-3C “Orion,” which has been in operation since the 1960s. They are still in service and performing missions all over the world.

Serving in the Navy means rebennack is part of a world that is taking on new importance in America’s focus on rebuilding military readiness, strengthening alliances and reforming business practices in support of the National Defense Strategy.

A key element of the Navy the nation needs is tied to the fact that America is a maritime nation, 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.

“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 for sailors to earn distinction in their command, community, and career, Rebennack is most proud of frocking a junior sailor to the next highest rank.

“It was recognition of mentorship,” said Rebennack. “The fact that they wanted me to be the first person to put their first rank on their collar was a very important and proud moment for me, there was a lot of meaning behind it.”

As a member of one of the U.S. Navy’s most relied upon assets, Rebennack and other sailors know they are part of a legacy that will last beyond their lifetimes contributing to the Navy the nation needs.