George Washington (CVN 73) - Naval Cruise Book

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 SfSfci Captain Szarleta was commissioned through the NROTC program at Purdue University with a degree in Aeronautical Engineering. After completing Naval Flight Officer school in 1985, he was assigned to VAQ- 140 as an EA-6B ECMO, homeported at NAS Whfdbey Island for deployments with the USS JOHN F. KENNEDY (CV 67) and USS DWIGHT D. EISENHOWER (CVN 69) Battlegroups in the Mediterranean Theater. In 1988, Captain Szarleta was selected for the NFO to Pilot Transition program where he received his Naval Aviator designation and subsequent orders to the Hornet community. Assigned to VFA-136, he completed workup and deployment cycles with CVW-7 aboard USS DWIGHT D. EISENHOWER (CVN 69) and USS GEORGE WASHINGTON (CVN 73) throughout the Mediterranean, Persian Gulf and North Atlantic AOR’s. In 1994, he reported to the U.S. Army’s Command and Staff College at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, for JPME Phase One training. After FRS refresher training, he reported to the Dambusters of VFA-195, homeported in Atsugi, Japan, with CVW-5 aboard the USS INDEPENDENCE (CVA 62). Serving as Safety, Maintenance, and Operations Officer, he completed several deployments throughout Korea, the Persian Gulf, and Pacific theaters. In 1997, Captain Szarleta reported to VFA-106, the east coast F A-18 FRS for duties as assistant Training, Training, and Operations Officers during the BRAC closing of NAS Cecil Field, Florida, and subsequent relocation to NAS Oceana, Virginia. Captain Szarleta reported to the Bulls of VFA-37 as Executive Officer in March 2000 and deployed with CVW-3 and the USS HARRY S. TRUMAN (CVN 74) Battlegroup in the Arabian Gulf. After his command tour at VFA-37, Captian Szarleta reported to the Navy Military Personnel Command in Millington, Tennesse as Head, Air Combat Placement (PERS-433) and the Bureau’s Naval Aviation Production Team Representative. In November 2003, Captain Szarleta assumed command of the Rough Raiders of VFA-125. In May 2006, he assumed the duties as Deputy Commander, Carrier Air Wing SEVENTEEN (CVW-17).

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Captian Troy M. (Mike) Shoemaker, a native of St. Petersburg Florida, graduated with honors from the United States Naval Academy in 1982 with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Systems Engineering. After he was designated a Naval Aviator in July 1984, Captain Shoemaker reported to VA-174 at Cecil Field, Florida for A-7E replacement pilot training. In April 1985, Captain Shoemaker was assigned to the “Gunslingers” of VA-105 and made two Mediterranean deployments aboard USS FORRESTAL (CV 59). In October 1988, he reported to VA-122 in Lemoore, California as an A-7E Instructor Pilot and Landing Signal Officer. Captain Shoemaker returned to Cecil Field in March 1991 and transitioned to the F A-18 with VFA-106. He subsequently joined CVW-3 as a staff Landing Signal Officer. Captain Shoemaker received orders back to the “Gunslingers” of VFA-105 in September 1992 for his department head tour and made two Mediterranean Arabian Gulf deployments aboard USS JOHN F. KENNEDY (CV 67) and USS DWIGHT D. EISENHOWER (CVN 69). In August 1995, he was selected to serve as the Aide to the Vice Chief of Naval Operations and in February 1996 was assigned to the US PACCOM in Hawaii as the Naval Aide to the Commander. Following this assignment and F A-18 refresher training, Captain Shoemaker reported for his third tour as a “Gunslinger” in Aug 1998, this time as the XO, and participated in Operation Desert Fox during an Arabian Gulf deployment aboard USS ENTERPRISE (CVN 65). He assumed command of VFA-105 in November 1999 and deployed a year later aboard USS HARRY S. TRUMAN (CVN 75) on her maiden deployment. In April 2001, Captain Shoemaker reported to the Navy Personnel Command in Millington, Tennessee, where he served as the Head Aviation Placement Officer (PERS-433). Captian Shoemaker was next assigned to VFA-106, the East Coast F A-18 Replacement Squadron, where he served as the “Gladiators” Commanding Officer from October 2002 until March 2004. From April to July 2004 he served as Deputy Director, Combined Air Operations Center, A1 Udeid Air Base, Qatar in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. In February 2005, he reported to Carrier Air Wing SEVENTEEN as the Deputy Commander. Captain Shoemaker assumed command of CVW-17 in May 2006. Captain Shoemaker’s personal decorations include the Defense Meritorious Service Medal, three Meritorious Service Medals, three Air Medals (one individual award with combat “V” and two strike flight awards), two Navy Commendation Medals, three Navy Achievement Medals and various unit, campaign and service ribbons. He has accumulated over 4,000 flight hours and 1,000 carrier landings. Captain Shoemaker is married to the former Peggy Golden of Bloomington, Minnesota. They have two young daughters, Lucy and Grace, and reside in Virginia Beach.

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 WB3K®59mW Master Chief Petty Officer Kellam, a native of Miami, Florida, joined the U.S. Navy’ in June of 1980. After attending recruit training in Orlando, Florida, he served two consecutive sea tours aboard USS PIEDMONT (AD 17), and USS SCOTT (DDG 995). While aboard USS SCOTT he was advanced to Second Class Petty Officer and participated in Operations during the Grenada campaign. Upon completion of sea duty, he was assigned to Naval Technical Training center, Pensacola, Florida, in which he served as Command Investigator and Evidence Custodian. He returned to sea duty in 1986, and was assigned to USS O’BANNON (DD 987) as Leading Petty Officer of Deck Department. During this assignment he was meritoriously advanced to First Class Petty Officer. Again doing back-to-back sea assignments he transferred to Commander, Submarine Squadron FOUR (SUBRON FOUR) aboard the Submarine Tender USS FRANK CABLE (AS 40) as Division Officer for second division and subsequently advanced to Chief Petty Officer. In October 1991, he transferred to Naval Station Rota, Spain for shore duty with follow on orders to Assault Craft Unit TWO, Little Creek, Virginia in December 1994. He qualified as Craft Master and Officer in Charge of Landing Craft Utility (LCU 1656) a 200 ton, 135 ft, category “A” Vessel and 13 person crew. During this tour he supported various Joint Task Force operations including OPERATION ASSURED RESPONSE. By 1998 he was assigned to Waterfront Support Maintenance Department, Naval Station Pearl Harbor, Hawaii and advanced to Senior Chief Petty Officer. After his advancement he was assigned to Port Operations as Leading Chief Petty Officer responsible for logistics support of all assigned units to include the Arizona Memorial and Ceremonial guard units at Ford Island. Completing his tour in Hawaii, he was selected to attend the Senior Enlisted Academy and graduated in March 2001. Upon graduation, he was advanced to his present grade of Master Chief Petty Officer and assigned to Commander, Amphibious Group TWO (COMPHIBGRU TWO) aboard the USS GUNSTON HALL (LSD 44). During this assignment, he completed UNITAS deployment 42-01 and was selected as a Command Master Chief. In 2002 Master Chief Kellam served as CMC in VAW-125 aboard USS GEORGE WASHINGTON (CVN 73), VAW-120 in 2003, and in March 2005 he was selected for his current position as Command Master Chief of Carrier Air Wing SEVENTEEN w here he is responsible to the CAG Commander in matters concerning mission accomplishment, good order and discipline, command climate, planning boards, family advocacy, and Regional Navy Issues for eight squadrons. Master Chief’s personal awards include the Meritorious Service Medal, Navy' Commendation Medal with three gold stars, Navy Achievement Medal with three gold stars, and numerous campaign and unit awards. He is Married to the former Diane Laney and has two sons, Jeffrey and Steven. They reside in Virginia Beach, Virginia.