Souda Spotlight: Air Traffic Controller Third Class Henry Waterman, Air Operations

Photo By Konstantinos Fantaousakis | NAVAL SUPPORT ACTIVITY SOUDA BAY, Greece (Oct. 18, 2021) Air Traffic Controller Third Class Henry Waterman is a native of Gastonia, N. C., and has been in the Navy for two years. NSA Souda Bay is his first duty station. He works in Air Operations and is the branch chief for the other Air Traffic Controllers, meaning he is the direct supervisor of all enlisted junior Sailors. His job is to keep an administrative record of all their qualifications, daily operation logs and ensure that all training is being done properly. NSA Souda Bay is an operational ashore base that enables U.S., allied, and partner nation forces to be where they are needed when they are needed to ensure security and stability in Europe, Africa, and Southwest Asia. (U.S. Navy photo by Kostas Fantaousakis/Released)  

GREECE

10.18.2021

Story by Konstantinos Fantaousakis 

U.S. Naval Support Activity Souda Bay

Air Traffic Controller Third Class Henry Waterman is a native of Gastonia, N. C., and has been in the Navy for two years. NSA Souda Bay is his first duty station.

Waterman comes from a military family as his father was in the Army. He works in Air Operations and is the branch chief for the other Air Traffic Controllers, meaning he is the direct supervisor of all enlisted junior Sailors. His job is to keep an administrative record of all their qualifications, daily operation logs and ensure that all training is being done properly.

What does your typical day look like in Air Ops?
Every morning when I come into base ops I will usually check our daily operations packet from the night before and ensure that everything was done properly, and I will also go over any critiques that have been written during on the job training for our junior Sailors. I am also charged with qualifying our Sailors and routing the required paperwork once it is ready.

What role does Air Operations play for NSA Souda Bay?
A very important one. NSA Souda Bay is here to serve as the last stop for any aircraft on their way down range to their respective areas of operation. We are the last stop for gas as well as the last place for rest before they get out there and proceed with their missions. Therefore, Air Operations plays a big role in the primary mission for NSA Souda Bay.

What is your favorite thing about your job?

Flight planning branch chief is a position typically held by a First Class Petty Officer, so as Third Class Petty Officer I am on the same level as my Sailors while also acting as a direct leader. This gives me the opportunity to lead them from their own perspective and serve as both a leader and a member of the team.

When you are not at work, what do you enjoy doing?
I enjoy playing guitar and being outdoors. I play a wide variety of video games but my personal preference is first person shooters such as Call of Duty and Battlefield. Back home I enjoyed fishing and deer hunting.

What do you want Team Souda to know about Air Ops?

This comes down to the mission here in Souda Bay. Air Operations is one of the sole purposes of this base being here so I feel we take pride in having that much responsibility and really being the backbone of the mission here. We also take pride in staying vigilant and paying close attention to detail in solving any potential issues before aircraft arrive. Once they get here, everything happens very smoothly as we try to coordinate what they need prior to arrival, and we give it to them so that they can get out of here and continue with their mission in a timely manner. This is a team achievement more than anything, as it's not just Operations that handles everything. To name just a few of the moving parts, Air Operations includes passenger services, cargo, as well as T-line personnel that park the planes on their spots. Our job specifically is to coordinate all of these operations and handle the administrative side of things prior to arrival so everyone is on the same page and everything happens smoothly.

• Date Taken: 10.18.2021
• Date Posted: 10.27.2021 07:13
• Story ID: 408087
• Location: GR