MILLINGTON, Tenn. – When NASA’s Artemis II crew splashed down in the Pacific upon their return to Earth from their flight around the moon, U.S. Navy sailors stood ready to welcome them home.
Airman Brandon Hernandez, a native of Winchester, Virginia, was among the sailors who supported the recovery of the crew and the Orion space capsule.
Hernandez, a 2023 graduate of Millbrook High School, serves the U.S. Navy assigned to Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron (HSC) 23, which airlifted the Artemis II crew back to USS John P. Murtha for further evaluations and then back to land.
Hernandez served as an airframe technician during the Artemis II recovery mission.
The skills and values needed to succeed in the Navy are similar to those found in Winchester.
“Growing up, I learned to stay strong and not let others change who I am,” Hernandez said.
Hernandez joined the Navy more than a year ago. Today, Hernandez serves as an aviation structural mechanic.
“My grandfather and uncles served in the Army,” Hernandez said. “I wanted to serve like them while creating my own path.”
NASA’s Artemis II mission sent four astronauts – NASA’s Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, Christina Koch and the Canadian Space Agency’s Jeremy Hansen – on a nearly 10-day flight around the moon in the Orion space capsule, marking the first time in more than 50 years that humans journeyed to deep space. The crew splashed down just after 5 p.m. (PDT) on April 10 in the Pacific Ocean off the coast of San Diego, where Navy sailors who had been training for this recovery mission were waiting aboard John P. Murtha.
In addition to transporting the crew, members of HSC-23 also provided NASA with imagery support from their MH-60S Sea Hawk helicopters by tracking the Orion space capsule as it traveled through Earth’s atmosphere.
Based at Naval Air Station North Island, California, the “Wildcards” of HSC-23 fly and maintain the MH-60S Sea Hawk helicopter, the Navy’s most advanced rotary wing sea combat platform. The Navy MH-60S is able to perform many different missions, but some of the most common operations include airborne mine countermeasures, anti-surface warfare, combat search and rescue, supply support and medical evacuations.
Hernandez has many opportunities to achieve accomplishments during military service.
“I am most proud of being a strong member of our shop and sharing my knowledge with my peers,” Hernandez said.
This year, the Navy is commemorating its contribution to the nation’s defense as the United States celebrates 250 years of independence. According to Navy officials, for more than 250 years, the Navy has sailed the globe defending freedom and protecting prosperity.
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.
“Serving in the Navy gives me the chance to support my family and protect those dear to me,” Hernandez said.
Hernandez is grateful to others for helping make a Navy career possible.
“I want to thank my mom and dad for making me the man I am today and for the lessons they taught me,” Hernandez said.