文章基本信息

标题：From the CO
期刊名称：Wings of Gold
印刷版ISSN：0274-7405
出版年度：2001
卷号：Winter 2001
出版社：Wings of Gold, Inc.

From the CO

A native of Salem, Oregon, CAPT Larry Salter took command of NAS Whidbey Island in January 1999.A graduate of Oregon State University he was commissioned via the Reserve Officer Candidate Program. He began flight training in 1974 and was designated an NFO a year later. He served in VQ-1 flying EP-3s and became a Senior Evaluator/Mission Commander. He transitioned to Prowlers, deployed with VAQ-133, was an instructor in VAQ-129, the EA-68 FRS, then returned to sea duty in VAQ-134 for his department head tour.

He next had CNO staff duty as Assistant for Technical Data Requirements and Intelligence for the Director of Electornic Wafare, C31 and Space Warfare. In 1989 he underwent refresher training in VAQ-129 and became XO of VAQ-140 and subsequently CO of the squadron from 19911993. On this tour he flew in Desert Shield and Desert Storm.

He then served on USS Abraham Lincoln as the Combat Direction Center Officer and participated in Operation Southern Watch. Study at the Industrial College of the Armed Forces followed and after graduation he joined the Office of the Secretary of Defense/ International Security Affairs - Near Eastern South Asian Affairs as Country Director for Bahrain, Qatar, Oman and Yemen. After this he assumed his present command. CAPT Salter has more than 5, 000 flight hours in 11 different aircraft, including over 2,700 hours in the EA-68. He has logged 750 arrested landings. His relief is CAPT Stephen P Black.

The following is derived from a Q&A session with CAPT Salter.

Wings of Gold Please describe the key changes that have taken place at the air station since Desert Storm in 1991.

CAPT Salter Base realignment and closure (BRAC) and the "advanced" age of the A-6 Intruder medium attack aircraft triggered a shift in the missions supported by the air station. In the midnineties, the Intruder squadrons were decommissioned as BRAC-displaced patrol and reconnaissance squadrons moved in from Moffett Field, California and Agana, Guam to make NAS Whidbey their new home. Although the mission and number of squadrons may have changed, personnel levels remained fairly constant.

On the heels of BRAC, the Navy directed implementation of regionalized management as a means to standardize operations, aligning like functions under a single program manager and ultimately reduce spending. For NAS Whidbey, the single Naval Aviation facility in the Pacific Northwest, regionalization has been relatively transparent to our customers. Through dealing with this paradigm shift and new way of doing business, we have learned to be more open-minded, flexible and resilient to ensure our customers have the resources and support to perform their missions.

Wings of Gold How many officers, sailors and civilians comprise the station staff?

CAPT Salter There is a total of 1,091 military and civilians assigned to the air station. Including all commands aboard the air station, the air station supports 10,050 military and civilians from the Navy, Marine Corps, Air Force and Army as well as the Canadian Navy.

Wings of Gold Could the air station accommodate more units than you now have operating from here?

CAPT Salter Yes. We are always looking to the future and taking appropriate actions to improve the base's infrastructure so that we are ready to support future requirements. Our "welcome" sign is out and our capacity for growth is impressive.

Wings of Gold Does the base have any shortcomings? That is, do you need more facilities, buildings, etc., than you already have?

CAPT Salter The obvious answer is, "of course we need more!" Some of our hangars and office buildings were constructed during World War II. The more practical answer is that our facilities are adequate to accomplish the mission and we are improving them as the budget permits. NAS Whidbey Island has been the recipient of significant funding recently to replace or improve housing, repair and improve the airfield, and we have three new structures funded in the FY02 MILCON budget. Based on what I have observed throughout the Navy - Whidbey appears to be in pretty good shape. Wings of Gold What is the biggest challenge you face as Commanding Officer?

CAPT Salter In light of recent terrorist events, my most significant challenge has been to balance the need to protect our personnel, their families and station assets with an appropriate level of security while minimizing the impact on the everyday work environment of our Sailors.

The challenge throughout my three years has been to provide quality products and outstanding customer service in a declining budget environment. This challenge has been made more difficult with the upheaval my civilian team members have experienced caused by the Congressionally mandated A-76/ Commercial Activities Studies which directed a reduction in government service employees.