By Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Jackson G. Brown, Navy Office of Community Outreach
OAK HARBOR, Wash. – Chief Petty Officer Travis Hughson, a native of Manistique, Michigan, had a family history of military service, and wanted to pursue the opportunities that the Navy had.
 |
| Photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Emilia Hilliard |
Now, 19 years after joining the Navy, Hughson serves with the “Grey Knights” of Maritime Patrol and Reconnaissance Squadron (VP) 46, working with the Navy’s cutting-edge maritime patrol and reconnaissance aircraft at Naval Air Station Whidbey Island, Washington.
“We have an amazing team,” said Hughson. “From admin to aircrew, we always get the job done and I like that dynamic.”
Hughson, a 2000 graduate of Manistique High School, is a naval aircrewman with VP-46, a high-tech maritime patrol and reconnaissance squadron tasked with monitoring the world’s oceans in the state-of-the-art P-8A “Poseidon.”
“I'm a flight engineer for our aircraft, and I perform pre-flight and post-flight monitoring,” said Hughson.
Hughson credits success in the Navy to many of the lessons learned in Manistique.
“Growing up in the Upper Peninsula, the freezing, fridgid temperatures during winter never closed our town,” said Hughson. “The resilience that we all had really stuck with me, and has carried me into the Navy. I'm up to any big task.”
VP-46's primary mission is to conduct maritime patrol and reconnaissance as well as long-range anti-submarine warfare, anti-surface warfare and intelligence gathering missions. They deploy around the world to monitor the world’s oceans wherever they are needed.
The P-8A Poseidon, the Navy’s newest maritime, patrol and reconnaissance aircraft, is a replacement aircraft for the legacy P-3C “Orion”. According to Navy officials, leveraging the experience and technology of the successful P-3C “Orion” with the needs of the fleet, the P-8A is designed to be combat-capable, and to improve an operator’s ability to efficiently conduct anti-submarine warfare; anti-surface warfare; and intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance missions.
As the Navy transitions to the full capacity with the P-8A “Poseidon”, the aircraft continues the work- horse tradition established by the P-3C “Orion”. The P-8A has a planned state-of-the-art open architecture mission system and next-generation sensors. These capabilities give warfighters added protection. The aircraft empowers the fleet with more combat capability, responsiveness, and interoperability with traditional manned forces and evolving unmanned sensors. The P-8A “Poseidon” has significant growth potential, with planned, phased-in technological improvements that extend global reach, payload capacity and higher-operating altitude.
“It's interesting how much Navy aircraft contribute to any mission,” said Hughson. “The capabilities that our aircraft have are great, and always get the job done.”
Serving in the Navy means Hughson 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, Hughson is most proud of his involvement in operation Iraqi Freedom, Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation New Dawn.
“It really felt like I was contributing to our team, flying with the aircraft, gathering information that helped commanders make important decisions for the battle groups,” said Hughson.
As a member of one of the U.S. Navy’s most relied upon assets, Hughson and other sailors know they are part of a legacy that will last beyond their lifetimes contributing to the Navy the nation needs.
“I take pride in serving in the Navy,” said Hughson. “I take pride in doing something meaningful and being a part of something that is bigger than me.”
“We have an amazing team,” said Hughson. “From admin to aircrew, we always get the job done and I like that dynamic.”
Hughson, a 2000 graduate of Manistique High School, is a naval aircrewman with VP-46, a high-tech maritime patrol and reconnaissance squadron tasked with monitoring the world’s oceans in the state-of-the-art P-8A “Poseidon.”
“I'm a flight engineer for our aircraft, and I perform pre-flight and post-flight monitoring,” said Hughson.
Hughson credits success in the Navy to many of the lessons learned in Manistique.
“Growing up in the Upper Peninsula, the freezing, fridgid temperatures during winter never closed our town,” said Hughson. “The resilience that we all had really stuck with me, and has carried me into the Navy. I'm up to any big task.”
VP-46's primary mission is to conduct maritime patrol and reconnaissance as well as long-range anti-submarine warfare, anti-surface warfare and intelligence gathering missions. They deploy around the world to monitor the world’s oceans wherever they are needed.
The P-8A Poseidon, the Navy’s newest maritime, patrol and reconnaissance aircraft, is a replacement aircraft for the legacy P-3C “Orion”. According to Navy officials, leveraging the experience and technology of the successful P-3C “Orion” with the needs of the fleet, the P-8A is designed to be combat-capable, and to improve an operator’s ability to efficiently conduct anti-submarine warfare; anti-surface warfare; and intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance missions.
As the Navy transitions to the full capacity with the P-8A “Poseidon”, the aircraft continues the work- horse tradition established by the P-3C “Orion”. The P-8A has a planned state-of-the-art open architecture mission system and next-generation sensors. These capabilities give warfighters added protection. The aircraft empowers the fleet with more combat capability, responsiveness, and interoperability with traditional manned forces and evolving unmanned sensors. The P-8A “Poseidon” has significant growth potential, with planned, phased-in technological improvements that extend global reach, payload capacity and higher-operating altitude.
“It's interesting how much Navy aircraft contribute to any mission,” said Hughson. “The capabilities that our aircraft have are great, and always get the job done.”
Serving in the Navy means Hughson 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, Hughson is most proud of his involvement in operation Iraqi Freedom, Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation New Dawn.
“It really felt like I was contributing to our team, flying with the aircraft, gathering information that helped commanders make important decisions for the battle groups,” said Hughson.
As a member of one of the U.S. Navy’s most relied upon assets, Hughson and other sailors know they are part of a legacy that will last beyond their lifetimes contributing to the Navy the nation needs.
“I take pride in serving in the Navy,” said Hughson. “I take pride in doing something meaningful and being a part of something that is bigger than me.”