Montgomery Native Awarded Champ of the Week Aboard USS Lake Champlain

Photo By Petty Officer 1st Class Nathan Serpico | 170401-N-FT178-088 SOUTH CHINA SEA (April 1, 2017) Capt. Chris Cegielski, commanding officer of Ticonderoga-class guided-missile cruiser USS Lake Champlain (CG 57), from Cheektowaga, New York, and Yeoman Seaman Jacob Ferguson, from Montgomery, Texas, pose for a photo. Lake Champlain is on a regularly scheduled Western Pacific deployment with the Carl Vinson Carrier Strike Group as part of the U.S. Pacific Fleet-led initiative to extend the command and control functions of the U.S. 3rd Fleet in the Indo-Asia-Pacific region. Navy aircraft carrier strike groups have patrolled the Indo-Asia-Pacific regularly and routinely for more than 70 years. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Nathan K. Serpico/Released)  

SOUTH CHINA SEA

04.01.2017

Story by Petty Officer 2nd Class Nathan Serpico 

Commander, U.S. 3rd Fleet           

Ferguson was selected for the week of March 6 - 10 for his outstanding work performance while underway during Carl Vinson Strike Group’s Western Pacific Deployment.

“Seaman Ferguson has exceeded his expectations,” said Capt. Chris Cegielski, commanding officer of Lake Champlain. “While completing multiple qualifications, he was still able to perform his job as administrative clerk above and beyond the standard for a seaman.”

Ferguson was given a certificate to mark his achievement and was also presented with a challenge coin from Cegielski.

“He meticulously prepared and processed 92 second class petty officer periodic evaluations, 11 spot awards and 37 miscellaneous pieces of correspondence, with minimal errors,” said Cegielski. “Also, as an assistant command fitness leader, he facilitated two Fitness Enhancement Program sessions.”

Ferguson felt very accomplished when he was called to the front of his division to receive the recognition.

“It was a good feeling, to be recognized like that in front of the division,” said Ferguson. “To get named as the Champ of the Week made me feel very accomplished and gives me motivation to continue working hard.”

Ferguson graduated from Montgomery High School in 2014 and joined the U.S. Navy in 2016.

Lake Champlain is on a regularly scheduled Western Pacific deployment with the Carl Vinson Carrier Strike Group as part of the U.S. Pacific Fleet-led initiative to extend the command and control functions of the U.S. 3rd Fleet in the Indo-Asia-Pacific region. U.S. Navy aircraft carrier strike groups have regularly patrolled the Indo-Asia-Pacific for more than 70 years and will continue to do so. Carl Vinson has deployed to the region several times, starting with a deployment to the Western Pacific in 1983, a year after commissioning. Most recently in 2015, Vinson conducted port visits and exercises with regional navies in the South China Sea.

U.S. 3rd Fleet leads naval forces in the Pacific and provides the realistic, relevant training necessary for an effective global Navy. Third Fleet constantly coordinates with U.S. 7th Fleet to plan and execute missions based on their complementary strengths to promote ongoing peace, security, and stability throughout the entire Pacific theater of operations.

Commissioned August 12, 1988, Lake Champlain is named after the Battle of Lake Champlain, also known as the Battle of Plattsburgh. The Battle of Lake Champlain ended the final invasion of the northern states of the United States during the War of 1812 and denied the British leverage to demand exclusive control over the Great Lakes and any territorial gains against the New England states.

For more information please visit the ship’s website:
http://www.public.navy.mil/surfor/cg57/Pages/default.aspx or
http://www.facebook.com/UssLakeChamplain/

-USN-

• Date Taken: 04.01.2017
• Date Posted: 04.10.2017 19:35
• Story ID: 229750
• Location: SOUTH CHINA SEA
• Hometown: MONTGOMERY, TX, US