OAK HARBOR, Wash. – Chief Petty Officer Fred Lewis, a native of Vancouver, Washington, joined the Navy to follow a family tradition of military and work in aviation.
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| Photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Emilia Hilliard |
“Life at this command is high tempo due to the constant rotation of assets all over the world,” said Lewis. "I enjoy the high-tempo environment because it's not the mundane office space."
Lewis, a 2003 graduate of Fort Vancouver High School, is a naval aircrewman (mechanical) 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 am responsible for performing pre-flight and post-flight inspections of the aircraft and making all load adjustment calculations for flight,” said Lewis. “I also am responsible for in-flight monitoring all the aircraft systems, fuel planning, providing pilots with safety of flight information and handling any emergency procedures.”
Lewis credits success in the Navy to many of the lessons learned in Vancouver.
“My hometown taught me to always have fun in what you do because if you aren't having fun, then it's just work,” said Lewis. "I love coming to work every day and love my job and what I get to do and helping other sailors."
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 Lewis 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, Lewis is most proud of being promoted to a chief petty officer.
“I am proud of this accomplishment because it is the product of many mentors of mine guiding me throughout my career to achieve this goal,” said Lewis. "It is something that I could not have achieved on my own."
As a member of one of the U.S. Navy’s most relied upon assets, Lewis and other sailors know they are part of a legacy that will last beyond their lifetimes contributing to the Navy the nation needs.
“Serving in the Navy means I get to push myself to the limit every day either mentally or physically for the defense of our country and its allies,” said Lewis. "The pride that I have every morning when I put on the uniform motivates me to be the best person that I can, not just for the sailors that I serve with but for my family as well."