OAK HARBOR, Wash. - Chief Petty Officer Lance Dillon, a native of Flint, Michigan, serves the U.S. Navy assigned to the Center for Naval Aviation Training Technical Unit (CNATTU) Whidbey Island, where sailors learn the skills needed to ensure aircraft are mission-ready.
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| Photo by Aviation Electronics Technician 1st Class Michael Manning |
Dillon graduated from Davison High School in 1994.
The skills and values needed to succeed in the Navy are similar to those found in Flint.
“Life was difficult coming up after the Vietnam War and during the Cold War and into Operations Desert Shield and on to Desert Storm,” said Dillon. “I started my first job with a paper route at the age of 12 leading to learning how to build decks and soldering brass pipes and using PVC piping to tear out and replace plumbing for neighbors. I connected with my brother-in-law who really was more than a mentor to me and taught me how to paint billboard signs back before vinyl and preprinted paper started being utilized. I also worked with my electronics teacher at his parts store after school during high school. All of this and much more shaped me into working hard to have a better life.”
Dillon is an instructor developing the skills required for naval aviation warfighting. Students are taught the requirements and skills needed to be successful in their careers. Instructors and staff are experts in the subject matter they teach and they provide cutting-edge technical training that transforms students into mission-ready warfighters.
Dillon joined the Navy 19 years ago. Today, Dillon serves as an aviation ordnanceman.
“My family is steeped in military history,” said Dillon. “My grandfather served in the Army during World War II. My father and uncle joined the Army together and deployed to Vietnam during the war. My uncle was killed in action within the first weeks of arriving on station. My stepfamily entailed military careers across Air Force and Navy Reserves, leading to myself joining the United States Navy in June of 1994.”
CNATTU Whidbey Island provides two shipboard aircraft firefighting courses in a live fire training environment where sailors learn to use essential teamwork and communication skills to be successful. Shipboard firefighting is a critical skill set every sailor deploying on board a ship must possess to save lives and equipment in the event of an emergency.
According to Navy officials, CNATTU’s mission is to produce resilient sailors and Marines with the necessary knowledge and skills to troubleshoot and maintain aircraft systems. These high-quality trained maintainers will provide the fleet with the aircraft readiness needed to succeed in combat.
With 90% of global commerce traveling by sea and access to the internet relying on the security of undersea fiber optic cables, Navy officials continue to emphasize that the prosperity of the United States is directly linked to recruiting and retaining talented people from across the rich fabric of America.
Dillon serves a Navy that operates far forward, around the world and around the clock, promoting the nation’s prosperity and security.
“We will earn and reinforce the trust and confidence of the American people every day,” said Adm. Lisa Franchetti, chief of naval operations. “Together we will deliver the Navy the nation needs.”
Dillon has many opportunities to achieve accomplishments during military service.
“I have many moments that I can say I am proud of, but the most important was accomplishing the rank of chief petty officer of the United States Navy,” said Dillon. “Donning the cover of a chief and wearing the anchor has been nothing short of a privilege filled with great responsibility to my nation, my sailors and most of all to my family.”
Dillon can take pride in serving America through military service.
“Serving in the United States Navy not once but twice, as I have a break in service, has been nothing short of remarkable,” said Dillon. “I have been afforded so many opportunities that I don’t think are communicated as they should be to our nation. The most important is the bonds and friendships developed along the way. I have been successful because of the sailors I have mentored and worked with who have become successful themselves. I still get calls and messages about their wins in life and the tribulations that befall them. Working together to make ourselves better each day and defending the interests of our nation and its people is what serving means to me.”
Dillon is grateful to others for helping make a Navy career possible.
“I want to thank my biggest supporters, my wife Joan, my son, Nikko, and my two daughters, Nicole and Aylar, for the sacrifices that they have made to allow me to serve my nation and be successful in the United States Navy,” added Dillon.