JACKSONVILLE, Fla. (September 19, 2018) – Patrol Squadron (VP) 26, the “Tridents,” received the AVCM Donald M. Neal Aircraft Maintenance Award on September 19 for outstanding aircraft maintenance during calendar year 2017.
The Golden Wrench award was initiated in 1965 by the Chief of Naval Operations and sponsored by Lockheed Martin to acknowledge maintenance performance that goes above and beyond even the extraordinary effort that regular aircraft maintenance requires. It is presented annually to the Patrol Squadron in the Atlantic Fleet, Pacific Fleet and Reserve Force that demonstrates the greatest excellence in aircraft maintenance.
Rear Admiral (Ret.) Jeffrey S. Jones, Boeing Director of USN/USMC Services, and Edgar W. Apollo, Boeing Director of Sustainment, presented this prestigious award to VP-26 Commanding Officer, Commander Michael J. Haymon.
“This award is the culmination of months of total team effort, requiring everyone to contribute,” said Lieutenant Commander Rick Dorsey, the VP-26 Maintenance Officer.
2017 was an extraordinary year for Team Trident. After completing the squadron platform transition from the P-3C Orion to the P-8A Poseidon in 2016, the Tridents successfully completed their first P-8A Fleet Response Training Plan (FRTP) and inaugural P-8A deployment to 7th Fleet.
During that deployment, VP-26 executed an unprecedented 635 sorties and 4,364 mishap free flight hours. The squadron’s exceptional maintenance program led to a 97 percent on-station on time rate during their highly successful deployment. Furthermore, the Tridents expertly loaded nine live Mk-54 torpedoes and four live AGM-84D Harpoon missiles during five live loading events and two live weapon flights which provided proof of concept, capabilities and limitations for the Maritime Patrol and Reconnaissance Force and Commander, 7TH Fleet.
The Tridents are homeported on NAS Jacksonville and are currently preparing to continue their reputation of operational excellence during their upcoming 6th Fleet deployment this fall.
| Date Taken: | 09.19.2018 |
| Date Posted: | 09.21.2018 10:04 |
| Story ID: | 293904 |
| Location: | JACKSONVILLE, FL, US |
| Web Views: | 252 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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