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PRESIDENTPAST PRESIDENT
CWO5 James E. KayLCDR Erick C. Stroud
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VICE PRESIDENTSECRETARY
CWO4 Chris SmithLCDR (Ret) Doug Thornton
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TREASURERFINANCIAL ASSISTANT
ABHC (Ret) Michelle Petersen
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BOARD OF DIRECTOR
LIFE MEMBER EMERITUS
CDR (Ret) Preston Jones
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BOARD OF DIRECTORBOARD OF DIRECTOR
LIFE MEMBERLIFE MEMBER
CAPT. (Ret) Tony McFarlaneLCDR (Ret) Doug Thornton
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BOARD OF DIRECTORBOARD OF DIRECTOR
3 YEAR MEMBER3 YEAR MEMBER
CWO4 Eric V. SmithABHCS (AW/SW/IW) Jorge Ramirez
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BOARD OF DIRECTORBOARD OF DIRECTOR
2 YEAR MEMBER2 YEAR MEMBER
CDR Russell A. LawrenceABH1 (AW/SW) Ashton Hemphill
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Home Email:
BOARD OF DIRECTORBOARD OF DIRECTOR
1 YEAR MEMBER1 YEAR MEMBER
CWO4 (Ret) Latonya WallaceABH2 Dion Sanders
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Home Email:
BOARD OF DIRECTORBOARD OF DIRECTOR
AB OF THE YEAR EAST COASTAB OF THE YEAR WEST COAST
ABFC (AW/SW) Eleazer RodriguezABEC (AW/SW) Michael Kwon
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PUBLIC AFFAIRS CHAPLAIN
LCDR (Ret) Doug ThorntonLCDR Erick Stroud
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Home Email:
MEMBERSHIP COORDINATOR
Donna Dodson HALL OF HONORS CURATOR
Home Email: BECS (Ret) Joe Bartell
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VENDOR COORDINATORMERCHANDISE COORDINATOR
ABHC (Ret) Michelle PetersenCWO4 (Ret) Latonya Wallace
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SCHOLARSHIP CHAIRMANWEBSITE ADMINISTRATOR
CW04 (Ret) Terry NewABECS (Ret) Phillip Sprinkle
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FUND RAISING CHAIRMANSOCIAL MEDIA MANAGER
Chuck MeadorCWO4 Chris Smith
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2018 PROFESSIONAL WORKING GROUP CHAIRMAN (SAN DIEGO, CA)
LTJG Alcides Sanchez
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NORTH EAST COAST (TURNERSVILLE, N.J.)GULF COAST (PENSACOLA, FL.)
ABFC (Ret) Joe BoyleABCM (Ret) Jim Myatt
Turnersville, N.J. 08012Pensacola, FL. 32526
E-mail: None AvailableHome E-mail:
Phone: Home:(856) 227-8674Phone: (850) 944-5205
EAST FLORIDA (JACKSONVILLE, FL.) SOUTH EAST COAST (MIAMI, FL.)
ABEC (Ret) Michael Rotes ABHCS (AW/SW) Lester Cruz"Yogi"
Jacksonville, FL. 32216 Jacksonville, Florida 32256
Home E-mail: -mail: Work:
Phone: (904) 642-2846 Home Email:
Phone: 904-697-8244
MIDWEST (PLEASANT PRAIRIE, WI.)MIDSOUTH (MILLINGTON, TN)
ABCM (Ret) Pete CianciABECS (AW/SW) Adrian Johnson
Pleasant Prairie, WI.53158Millington, TN 38055-4040
Home E-mail: ork E-mail:
Phone: (262) 694-9145Phone:Work (901) 874-3390
Work DSN: 882-3390
FAX DSN: 882-26642
MIDNORTH (RAPID CITY, S.D,)NORTH WEST COAST (PORT ORCHARD, WA)
ABCM (Ret) Randy WeissLT (Ret) Mike Yaskin
Rapid City, S.D. 57702-9418Port Orchard, WA. 98366
Home E-mail: ome E-mail:
Phone: (605) 673-4486Phone: (360) 405-5118
SOUTH WEST COAST (SAN DIEGO, CA)EUROPEAN REGION (ROTA SPAIN)
ABHC(AW/SW) Fernando DiazLT James Dignan
Work E-mail: SC 819 Box 7
Home Email: PO AE 09645-007
Cellular (619) 606-8039 Work Email:
Phone: COMM: 011-34-956-82-2407
DSN: 314-727-2407
AB’S OF THE NORTHWESTBREMERTON, WASHINGTON
PRESIDENTVICE-PRESIDENT (PSNS)
LT (Ret) Mike YaskinCWO4 (Ret) Jim Mitchell
Home E-mail: ork E-mail:
Phone: (360) 405-5118
VICE-PRESIDENT (WHIDBEY)VICE-PRESIDENT (EVERETT)
LCDR Reynaldo StanleyLT Kimberlee Garcia
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Home Email:
Phone: Home: (619) 251-7238
CHAPTER PRESIDENT CONTACT INFORMATION CONTINUED
JACKSONVILLE CHAPTERSOUTHERNMOST CHAPTER
JACKSONVILLE, FLORIDAKEY WEST, FLORIDA
PRESIDENTPRESIDENT
CWO3 (Ret) Ralph LaytonABHC Cory Schwisow
Home E-mail: ork Email:
Phone: (904) 529-9200Phone: Work: (305)293-2026
MOTHER CHAPTERSOUTH FLORIDA CHAPTER
TOMS RIVER, NEW JERSEYMIAMI, FLORIDA
PRESIDENTNo information Available
ABE2 (AW) Tyler Edwards
Work Email:
Phone:
MID-SOUTH CHAPTERABMA CHAPTER OF NEW ORLEANS
MILLINGTON, TENNESSEENEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA
PRESIDENTPRESIDENT
ABF1Kaseem FletcherABH1 Joshua L. Schmeck
Work E-mail:ork E-mail:
Phone: Work: (901) 874-3207Phone: Work: (504) 678-3603
Cellular: (901) 679-1314 Cellular: (734) 250-0830
TIDEWATER CHAPTERPAX RIVER CHAPTER
NORFOLK, VIRGINIAPATUXENT RIVER, MARYLAND
PRESIDENTPRESIDENT
ABHCS Jorge RamirezABH1 Timothy Godden
Work E-mail: WorkE-mail:
Home Email: hone: Work: (301) 342-5358
Cellular: (757) 240-6255
GULF COAST CHAPTERROTA CHAPTER
PENSACOLA, FLORIDAROTA, SPAIN
PRESIDENTPRESIDENT
ABE1 David BarnabyABH2 Christopher J. Piotrowski
Work E-mail: Work E-mail:
Home Email: hone: Comm: 011-34-956-82-2950
Phone: (757) 642-5837DSN: 314-727-2950
CHAPTER PRESIDENT CONTACT INFORMATION CONTINUED
SAN DIEGO CHAPTER
SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA
PRESIDENT
LTJG Alcides Sanchez
WorkEmail:
Home Email:
Phone: 484-347-8550
NAPLES, ITALY CHAPTER
NAPLES, ITALY
CHAPTER ESTABLISHING POINT OF CONTACT
ABH1 (AW/SW) Joseph Loera
E-Mail:
AB’S DON’T LET AB’S DRINK AND DRIVE!
Aviation Boatswain’s Mates!
It is a great honor and privilege to serve as your ABMA President. I look forward to working with each of you in the coming year. As an association we will continue our effort to promote initiatives towards improving our organization while encouraging active participation from all of our members.
As the world’s preeminent experts in Naval Aviation aircraft handling, crash & salvage, launch & recovery, and aviation fuels systems, each of you exhibit the professionalism that our Navy values. The ABMA is a forum for sharing experience while consolidating views toward enhancement of safety, efficiency and improvement of capabilities toward the most vital component in our nation’s defense; the United States Service Members of our Armed Forces.
The August 2017 ABMA Working Group conducted in Norfolk was a huge success in gathering participants from a wide range of backgrounds and platform experience. The Tidewater Chapter’s dedicated work of fundraising throughout the past year ensured that ABs from around the world were able to have a venue for face to face dialogue with sponsoring vendors and program leadership. As a reminder, the process of submitting workshop agenda items is not a once in a year opportunity. Whether you are the newest Airman onboard your command or the most experienced veteran in our field, we place high value on your recommendations for process improvement.
The San Diego Chapter is preparing to host the 2018 ABMA Working Group. It is never too early for each of us to participate in local chapter events including promotion of membership, merchandise sales, and scholarship opportunity. Each of these initiatives contribute to our primary objective of stimulating improvements in Naval Aviation safety in the “aircraft on deck” mode, touchdownto takeoff both at sea and ashore.
Again, I look forward to supporting our active duty, retirees, and their families who continue making exceptional contributions to the advancement of the Aviation Boatswain’s Mates community.
CWO5 James Kay
ABMA President
ARRIVE ALIVE-DON’T TEXT AND DRIVE
Letter from the ABMA Chaplain
Warriors around the World,
I greet you in the name of the Most High! If you are able to read this message, you are doing just fine. We sometimes forget that our circumstances can be a lot worse than what we are currently facing and on the other hand-they can be a lot better as well. I am starting to realize that it is okay to be content with what I have and to be thankful for the life that God blessed me with! All too often, we want to live someone else’s life that is displayed on social media. We are not privy to everything that they may encounter on a daily basis but they pick and choose what they want to share with their friends/followers. News alert—we can’t pick and choose the cards that we are dealt, we are some of the toughest people in the world as it is displayed through our work ethic and our AB mentality. Let’s continue to press forward and be the best version of ourselves!
As we defend freedom and democracy around the world, I challenge you all to continue to lift one another up in prayer and commit a special prayer for our brothers and sisters in harm’s way and currently on watch as well as comfort and peace for the loved ones that they have left behind. Do the right thing and make the right decisions and you will get the right results!!!! Feed the faith and starve the doubt!!! "Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of His glory with exceeding joy, to the only wise God our Savior, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and forever." (Jude 1:24-25)
LCDR Erick C. Stroud
ABMA Chaplain
Greetings Fellow AB’s;
I hope this Newsletter is finding you and your family in the very best of health and doing quite well! My prayers go out to those that have been affected by the killings in Las Vegas, Nevada, the hurricanes, tornados, and fires that have caused a lot of damage across the county and have taken many lives.
I want to say “Thank you” and “awesome job” to the Tidewater Chapter ABMA for putting together a flawless and enjoyable ABMA Professional Working Group!
I know the AB’s of the San Diego Chapter are extremely busy getting things ready for nextyear’sABMA Professional Working Group in San Diego, California.
A reminder for everyone; for all ABMA Chapters all your members must be a member of theNational ABMA in order to be a member of the local Chapter ABMA. All ABMA Chapter Officers check over your membership rosters to ensure you are in compliance. This is as per the ABMA By-Laws Article III Section IV. Which states “Chapter By-laws must contain the provision that its members must be active members of the Association prior to becoming members of the Chapter”. And this does apply to everyone and every ABMA Chapter. I have attached the new ABMA Membership Form.
If you know of anyone in the AB community that is sick, injured, or has died, or is going through a hardship, such as a total loss from a house fire, major medical issues, extended hospital stays, etc. contact the ABMA Chaplain and he can get the word out to the AB community.
Please get your nomination packages in for the ABMA AB of the Year, the ABMA LCDR Regina Pearl Mills Leadership Award to the respective AIRLANT or AIRPAC by April 28, 2018. Also please submit your inputs for the ABMA Posthumous Legend, ABMA Living Legend by June 1, 2018, and the ABMA Isabela M. Gillen Memorial Scholarship by July 1, 2018. The ABMA Posthumous Legend and the ABMA Living Legend are to be sent to me, the ABMA Secretary. The ABMAIsabela M. Gillen Memorial Scholarship is to be sent to CWO4 (Ret) Terry New. Our contact information is listed above under the ABMA BOD and ABMA Staff.
For all ABMA Chapters: Please forward me a list of all your officers and their contact information including address, phone number and email address whenever you have your elections. You can contact me at (619) 578-1523 or email . Also I will need a copy of your ABMA Chapter’s By-Laws, if I do not already have them or if you make any changes to your By-Laws. If you’re not sure if I have the information on your Chapter, please feel free to contact me. Thank you!
I hope everyone has a very happy Thanksgiving, a very Merry Christmas, and a safe, enjoyable, and happy New Year!
Let’s continue to bring in the junior AB’s and get them involved. Keep your head on a swivel and stay safe! God bless each and every one of you and may God bless America!
A Fellow AB;
Doug Thornton
Secretary/Public Affairs Officer/Historian/ABMA BOD Life Member
DRUG FREE IS THE ONLY WAY TO BE!
From the Treasurer; ABHC (AW/SW) Ret Michelle Petersen.
G'day all! First I'd like to say thank you to the Tidewater Chapter for hosting our 2017 working conference. Next, another thank youto the general assembly for their vote of confidence in voting me in as treasurer. I know we all miss Stoney and his wealth of knowledge, but I promise to do a great job for this organization. With that being said please if you are not a member, become one. Christmas is right around the corner, visit our merchandise store online and buy something. If you are looking for an end of year tax write off, consider supporting our scholarship fund. These are just a few ideas to keep our organization functioning. Last year between income and expenses we made a profit of only $3100.00. I hope everyone has a Happy Thanksgiving, Merry Christmas, and a safe and Happy New Year.
Aussie Out!
From the Vendor Coordinator; ABHC (AW/SW) Ret Michelle Petersen.
Wow you get to hear from me twice in one newsletter! Once again another successful working conference is under our belt and without our vendors it would be very difficult to pull this off each year. Thank you to: The Hellan Strainer Co, Gammon Technical Products, Huntington Ingalls Shipbuilding, ITW Polymer Technologies, Eaton Ground Refueling, Rayco, Desco, Fisher Scientific, Creare LLC, Gentex Corporation, ELSCO International, and our two new vendors, HYTORC, and Elkart Brass. If you are looking for something for your command be sure to check these companies out first. You can find their link on our webpage. Once again thank you vendors and I look forward to seeing each of you in San Diego in 2018!
Aussie Out!
Greetings fellow AB’s from Patuxent River, MD!
The Aviation Boatswain's Mate community continues to thrive here at PAX as we continue to support the fleet. The Patuxent River Chapter of the ABMA is still moving strong. We recently had a successful election and the new committee members are as follow:
President: ABH1 Timothy GoddenVice President: ABHC Gregory Olsen
Secretary: ABH2 Johnathan SanchezTreasurer: ABECS (Ret) Phil Sprinkle
MAA: ABE2 Jordan CarterPAO: ABE2 Shawn Whitford
Merchandise Coord: ABHAN Roberto Cerdas
PMA-251 – Continue to support the fleet. Farewell to CDR Marvin Harris who transferred to NAS Whidbey Island as CNATTU XO. Welcome aboard to CDR Mack Wafford!
Naval Health Clinic Patuxent River AB’s - Showing continuing support here at the Clinic and for “War Fighters” Most recently ten AB’s were on standby in support of Humanitarian assistance for Hurricane Irma onboard USNS COMFORT. While onboard they prepared both life safety/Crash & Salvage equipment for operational readiness. The AB’s will be supporting Operation “Bold Alligator” in October for fleet wide exercise. In partnership; they supported the Aviation Museum in safely moving four static display aircrafts on the compound. The team has proved to be a highly reliable crew inside the walls of the Clinic, as well in the PAX community.
New Arrival: ABH2 Miller coming to us from USS America (LHA-6)
Transferring: ABHAN Sanders going to the USS Green Bay (LPD-20)
Retired this October: Chief Seagrave with 24 Years of faithful service.
Air Field Services – Bravo Zulu to Airfield Support Division (AFS) on a grade of “OUTSTANDING” during the recent NAVAIR CAFSU inspection and certification of the E-28 Emergency Arresting Gear Systems, as well as the associated LENS. Continue to maintain the E-28 Arresting Gear at NAS Patuxent River in support of NTWL fixed wing testing. Additionally, AFS personnel maintain FOD awareness and assist USDA personnel in Bird Aircraft Strike Hazard (BASH) program. Welcome aboard LT Steve Yaccarino who is coming from USS George Washington. Fair winds and following seas to ABH1 Andrew Jilcott who is retiring this fall and to ABH1 Josh Musick who retires this winter. You have done us proud and we wish you all the best in your transition from military to civilian life. Job well done!
It is my pleasure to announce ABH1 Compton, ABH2 Lindsey, and ABH3 Henry’s selection thru Meritorious Advancement Program (MAP). They were selected among 16 high-caliber finalist candidates in NAS Patuxent River. Welcome aboard ABH2 Ngo, ABH2 Arnold, and ABH3 Pelaya!!!
Fuel Farm - Continue to provide JP-5, JP-8, MOGAS, #2 Heating Oil, and the Navy’s newest Bio Fuel to NRC Solomon’s Island, Webster Field, Naval Station Dahlgren, and transient aircraft in support of NAVSUP FLC Norfolk Mission.
VX-23 TC-7/MK-7 Sites –The site successfully completed its 40,000th aircraft launch on May 15, 2017. TC-7 continue to maintain the FLOLS, catapult and arresting gear equipment at VX-23 in support of test and evaluation of fighter and trainer aircraft, weapon systems and components.
Bravo Zulu in recognition for a vital role in the 2017 NAVAIR ALREMP inspection. ABE2 Whitford, ABE3 Montgomery, EM2 Stroughn and ABE2 Castillo displayed exceptional leadership; their efforts led their prospective Work Centers to zero discrepancies during the annual inspection resulting in TC-7 Department receiving an overall grade of “OUTSTANDING".
Congratulations:
1.)Chief Tran Miles for recognition as VX-23 Admiral Claude V. Ricketts Award for Inspirational Leadership.
2.)ABE1 Fernandez-Lopez and ABE2 Hampshire's selection thru Meritorious Advancement Program (MAP)
3.)ABE1 McAuliffe as TC-7 Senior Sailor of the Quarter for 1st and 2nd QTRs 2017
4.)ABE2 Montero as TC-7 Junior Sailor of the Quarter 2nd QTR 2017
5.)EM2 Stroughn for recognition as VX-23 Junior Sailor of the Quarter 3nd QTR 2017
6.)New Petty Officers, ABE1 Jones, ABE2 Ray, ABE2 Castello and ABE2 Mutee.
New Arrival: ABECS Perkins, ABE1 Cira, ABE1 Wong, ABE2 Depaz, ABE3 Zheberev, ABE3 Pettis, ABE3 Rains, ABE3 Huggins and ABE2 Ray.
Transferred: ABEC Boesch transferred to USS Carl Vinson, ABE1 Fernandez-Lopez transferred to USS Dwight D. Eisenhower and ABE1 Santana transferred to USS Harry S. Truman.