George Washington (CVN 73) - Naval Cruise Book

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AG3 David Simon AG3 Keith Webster AN David Benson AGAN Noel Kenward AGAN Bryan Patterson AGAA James Norman AGAA Roy Roberson AGAR Glen Johns

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Whether providing strike forecasts, weather forecasts for SITE TV, severe weather warnings, staff briefings, anti-submarine warfare range predictions, or forecasts of destructive weather, the Sailors from METRO eagerly responded to the challenges Mother Nature threw at the ship and airwing. During the deployment 16 personnel provided weather and ASW support 24 hours a day, seven days a week. As the Ship’s Oceanographer and Meteorologist, LCDR George Davis led the division in the entire spectrum of weather forecasting ranging from the high winds and seas of the North Atlantic’s spring and fall to the heat and humidity of the Arabian Gulf summer. The Mediterranean proved no exception in testing the ability of the GW forecasters. In all, there were three months of zero precipitation coupled with three months of strike support. Statistically, METRO provided more than 600 cyclic weather briefs, recorded more than 5100 weather observations, and processed more than 130 upper air soundings. On a more personal note, AGCM Brady logged his seventh Sea Service Ribbon; AGC(SW) Doolittle was promoted to CPO; AG1 Luke made his last deployment, AG 1 Luciani experienced his first Med Cruise; and AG2 Trammell reenlisted for two years. For our rookies making their first deployment of any kind, AG3 Webster recnlistcd for three years; FC3 Pongrazc was inducted into the AG rating; AG3 Andrulis and AG3 Simon were advanced to third class; AN Benson became an AG and reported to “A” [school; and AG’s Kenward, Patterson, Rol Norman and Johns earned their first comi ribbons. J LCDR George Davis Jr. AGCM Ronald Brady AGI(SW) Gerald Doolittle AG1 James Luciani II AG1(AW SW) Robert Luke I AG2 Thomas Trammell1 AG3 Jeffrey AndruUsI 426 Operations OA Division

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CDR Ernest Hawkins LCDR Robert DeGennaro LCDR Rick Hostetler LT John Arnold LT Mark Gates ACCS(AW SW) Jeffrey Fabian ACC(AW) Wesley Bomyea DSC(SW) Charles Warrem AC1 Scott Hankinson Sometime after midnight, a young pilot enters CATCC looking for the reassuring voice on the other end of his “Yes sir, may I help you? “Yeah,” says the young pilot, a little £ f shaken, “I just wanted to say thanks. It V was pretty scaiy out there tonight, but that aci(AW sw) Darren Hood was the best approach I’ve ever had!” Compliments are great, but what the €1 W ' pilot didn’t realize was that his approach was one of more than 4,500 CATCC controlled night landings completed since the beginning of the year. The three branches of CATCC: Air Operations, Carrier Controlled Approach (CCA) and the Air Transfer Office (ATO) performed flawlessly throughout woik-ups and during GW’s maiden deployment Beginning with a score of 99.7 percent on their Naval Air Training and Operating Procedures Standardization (NATOPS) exam to three consecutive perfect scores on launch and recovery exercises, the “CATCC 73 team” accepted nothing short of excellence. AC1 George Murphy GW conducted more than 450 launch and recovery cycles while deployed, all of which were coordinated, briefed and controlled by CCA. More than 100 flight plans were filed for destinations from England to Oman, while keeping CVW-7 and the bridge team informed of airspace restrictions through a first-of-its-kind computer generated graphic hot-area sheet. The ATO branch of OC coordinated the movement of more than 6,000 passengers, 700,000 pounds of mail and 1.6 million pounds of cargo. Whether escorting newly arriving personnel or handling VIP’s including the President and First Lady, the demanding job kept passengers moving safely on and off the ship at all times. The maiden deployment for the “CATCC 73 team” was a resounding success, and proved they could maintain the hectic pace of deployment, while asserting the fact that they are “The Finest in the Fleet” 428 Operations OC Division