Deputy director of security to retire tomorrow

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JAX AIR NEWS, NAS JACKSONVILLE, Thursday, January 25, 2007
Deputy director of
security to retire tomorrow
ByKayleeLaRocque
Editor
N
AS Jax Deputy Director of
Security Gary Newman will
retire for the second time from
the NAS Jax Security Department
during a ceremony at the NAS Jax
Officers’ Club tomorrow at 10 a.m.
Many of his co-workers, friends
and associates will help celebrate
the completion of his illustrious 24year career with the security department. Rear Adm. Donald Bullard,
commander, Navy Expeditionary
Combat Command, will be the
guest speaker. Also speaking will be
Commander, Navy Region Southeast
Rear Adm. Mark Boensel and NAS
Jax Commanding Officer Capt. Chip
Dobson.
Newman, who was raised in a military family, joined the Navy in March
1959 In Kodiak, Alaska and completed basic training at NTC, San Diego.
Newman has served in a variety of
commands. His tours of duty included:
USS Ammen (DD 527), USS Shelton
(DD 790), USS Orleck (DD 886),
USS Maddox (DD 731), U.S. Naval
Magazine, Subic Bay, Philippines,
Armed Forces Police Department,
Olongapo, Philippines, USS Henry
W. Tucker (DD 875), Task Force 117,
River Assault Division 112 in Mekong
Delta, Vietnam, Armed Forces Police
Department, Brooklyn Navy Yard,
USS Zellars (DD 777), USS John
R. Pierce (DD 753), USS Howard
W. Gilmore (AS 20), Shore Patrol
Headquarters, La Maddalena, Italy
and NAS Jax Security Department.
Newman retired from the Navy at
NAS Jax in 1978 as a master-at-arms
chief petty officer. He then joined the
Clay County Sheriff’s Office in Green
Cove Springs, and served as a deputy
sheriff.
In August 1983, Newman returned
to the NAS Jax Security Department
to serve as the station’s chief of police.
He was promoted to deputy director
of security in 2003 and has served in
GaryNewman
that capacity until now.
“My most memorable experiences
during my Navy career were going
through basic training and completing
a six-month Western Pacific cruise
before my 18th birthday, having been
in both Alaska and Hawaii before
they became states, being on board
USS Maddox during the Tonkin Gulf
Incident in August 1964, reenlisting
in full battle gear while on a combat
mission inside the Rung Sat Special
Zone in Vietnam by Lt. Cmdr. Dusty
Rhodes and being a plankowner in
the master-at-arms (MAA) rating
after cross-rating from torpedoman’s
mate in 1973,” said Newman.
During his career here, Newman
has seen numerous changes on the
base and within his department. “I’ve
served under 13 different commanding officers with each having goals
they wanted to fulfill during their
term. Helping them reach their goals
has been a rewarding experience. I’ve
seen some wonderful changes especially the area of demolishing old and
obsolete buildings to make room for
building new and modern working
and living spaces,” stated Newman.
“Some of the biggest changes have
occurred in the area of enhanced security projects that, although largely
transparent, have significantly helped
to protect the station’s assets and personnel. When stationed here in 1975,
there were only 18 civilian police officers. I was the first rated MAA to
serve in the department as a patrol
officer. The security practices and
equipment in use today were nonexistent then.”
“With the terrorist attacks of 9/11,
the department grew to 350 civilian
and military security officers. With
the personnel growth, new monies
because available to fight the war on
terrorism. The department is now
back to around 165 security officers.
I am truly amazed at how all the military and civilian workers throughout
the station tackle problems together, always as one unified team,” he
added.
So what will he miss the most after
being part of the base security team
for that past couple decades? “I’m
going to miss my co-workers and the
many daily challenges that come with
managing a multi-faceted department. Most importantly, I will miss
my many friends I’ve known for so
many years. I am customer-service
oriented and I truly enjoyed working
with everyone and doing my part in
providing a safe working and living
environment,” he continued.
Newman has other high aspirations
for the near future. “I have other
interests that I want to pursue and
I feel that the opportunity is right
for me to follow my dreams and still
provide a service to the military and
civilian community,” he said. “I have
filed my paperwork with the Clay
County Supervisor of Elections and
am now a candidate for the Office
of Sheriff, Clay County. My three
decades of experience in law enforcement and anti-terrorism procedures,
linked with the ability to work with
a diversified community as a proven
team manager will prove to be beneficial to everyone.”
3
PhotobyMCSNHarryRuckerIII
Lt. Jason Mays ofVP-5 explains the mission of a P-3C Orion
aircrafttotheAssociationofEldersfromthetownTremestier,
Sicily, Italy Jan. 13.VP-5 provided the association with a
static display of a P-3C Orion aircraft while on their tour of
NASSigonella.VP-5,homeportedinJacksonville,isforwarddeployed in support of maritime security operations and the
globalwaronterrorism.
Tremestier
elders visit VP-5
ByMCSNHarryRuckerIII
VP-5PublicAffairs
T
he “Mad Foxes” of VP-5, forward deployed to
Sigonella, Italy in support of maritime security
operations and the global war on terrorism, hosted
the Association of Elders from the town of Tremestier,
Sicily Jan. 13.
The elders were on a scheduled tour of both the Italian
and American sides of NAS Sigonella when they paid a
visit to the VP-5 hangar spaces.
The group of 127 was able to view a static display of a P3C Orion aircraft as well as pose for photographs in front
of a giant American flag and the VP-5 insignia.
The highlight of the visit was when Lt. Jason Mays
spoke to the elders about the mission the P-3C Orion performs for the Navy. Mays was assisted by NAS Sigonella
Community Relations Officer Alberto Lunetta with translations.
“Meeting all the elders was really cool. They were excited and inquisitive about our jobs as aircrew. However, it
would have been nice if I knew Italian,” explained Mays.
The elders were introduced to the flight crew and were
shown a sonobuoy, a common tool used to detect submarines.
Upon completion of the VP-5 static display, the group
applauded with gratitude for the Mad Fox hospitality. “It
was a very pleasant experience. The elders were really
interested in our mission and it was a great opportunity
to share the P-3C Orion with our host nation,” said VP-5
Commanding Officer Cmdr. Brent Klavon.
VP-5 looks forward to many more opportunities to display its aircraft and personnel to our Italian allies.