USS Enterprise (CVN 65) - Naval Cruise Book

Page 19 text:

Captain David I. Mercer United States Navy Commander Carrier Air Wing EIGHT Captain David J. Mercer, a native of Prospect Park, Pennsylvania, graduated from the United States Naval Academy in 1978. Following flight training in Corpus Christi and Beeville Texas, he was designated a Naval Aviator in July 1980. He then reported to Attack Squadron FORTY-TWO for replacement training in the A-6 Intruder. Captain Mercer served in flying assignments with the 4'Fighting Tigers of Attack Squadron SIXTY-FIVE, the staff of Commander, Carrier Air Wing THREE and the Thunderbolts of Attack Squadron ONE SEVENTY-SIX. Following transition to the FfA-18 Hornet, Captain Mercer reported to the WILDCATS,' of Strike Fighter Squadron ONE THREE ONE as Executive Officer, and assumed command in June 1996. Sea duty assignments included deployments to the Mediterranean Sea, Atlantic Ocean and Arabian Gulf embarked in USS DWIGHT D. EISENHOWER QCVN 691, USS JOHN F. KENNEDY QCV 671, USS FORRESTAL QCV 591 and USS GEORGE WASHINGTON ICVN 731. Shore duties included assignments as Flight Instructor and Wing Landing Signal Officer in Training Wing TWO, Kingsville Texas, and to Commander, Naval Air Force U.S. Atlantic Fleet as Force LSO. In March 1992, Captain Mercer reported to Strike Weapons and Tactics School, Atlantic fSWATSLANT1 as Executive Officer and as- sumed command on 17 July 1992. In January 1998 he reported to the Bureau of Naval Personnel in Washington, DC, serving as Branch Head, Aviation LCDRfJunior Officer Assignments IPERS 4321. Captain Mercer reported as Deputy Commander, Carrier Air Wing Eight in April 2000 prior to assuming duties as Commander, Carrier Air Wing Eight in June 2001. He has logged more than 4,300 flight hours and over 1,250 carrier arrested landings aboard 14 different aircraft carriers. Decorations include the Legion of Merit, Meritorious Service Medal, Strike f Flight Air Medal, Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal, Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal as well as various unit and campaign awards. I 7

Page 21 text:

Captain David A. Newland United States Navy Deputy Commander Carrier Air Wing EIGHT Captain David A. Newland was born in Portsm th ou Naval Hospital, Portsmouth, Virginia. The son of a Navy Mustangl' he graduated from UCLA and was commissioned an Ensign through the NROTC program in March 1980. After initial Naval Flight Officer training at Pensacola, Florida, Commander Newland reported to VA- 128, NAS Whidbey Island, WA for A-6 fleet replacement training. 1 In February 1982, he joined VA-95 and deployed on the USS ENTERPRISE CCVN-655. In May 1985, he reported to the Pacific Missile Test Center QPMTCJ Point Mugu, CA for duties as the 11Tomahawk Proj ect Flight Test Officer. Following the flight testing of over 50 Tomahawk missiles, including the development of the new Tomahawk Submunitions Missile CBGM-109Dj he transferred to the staff of COMCARGRU ONE at NAS North Island, CA as the Strike!Weapons Officer. Following deployments on USS CONSTELLATION CCV-6411 and USS INDEPENDE , NCE CCV-62j, in June 1990, he transferr dt V 1128 as the Safety Officer of the N , ' e o A- avy s largest arrcraft squadron. In Iune1992, he reported to VA-115 stationed at NAF Atsugi, Japan where he served as the Administration Officer, Operations Officer, and Maintenance Officer. Following multiple deplo me t hr y n s t oughout the Pacific and Arabian Gulf he reported in August 1994 to the ir War College at Maxwell AFB, Alabama -n August 1995, he reported to VAW-120 for transition training to the E-2C. In October 1996 h - e reported to VAW-126 and completed deplo m t CCVN- ' y en s onboard USS Theodore Roosevelt 711 and USS Enterprise CCVN-655 which included Operation DESERT FOX. In April 1999 he reported to th J ' e ornt Chiefs of Staff, Current Operations CJ-35 Directorate. In June 2001 he reported as Deputy Commander Carrier A' W' ' , rr rng Eight. Captain Newland has accumulated over 4000 fl' h lg thours and 800 carrier arrested landings in eleven different 'Qitary aircraft. I9