Constants in a Changing World

Some things in life never seem to change. In today’s rapid technological advances, we take great comfort in that at times. There are those little constants in life that stick with us and provide that extra edge of confidence just when we need it. That’s certainly true in Naval Aviation.

Take our wings, for example. These winged fouled anchors (their original official designation) have been adorning the Naval Aviators’ chests with very little change since their adoption 82 years ago. They were born of an interservice rivalry of sorts (again, some things never change) in 1913, when a group of Naval Aviators voiced a need for a distinguishing mark after Army fliers began sporting “badges.”

Not so coincidentally (perhaps), the G.F. Hemsley Company sent a suggestion to the Chief of Naval Operations, ADM William S. Benson, for such a device. A few years later they “took the liberty” of forwarding a design for an aviation cap and collar device. Although that kind offer was gently rebuffed by the CNO, it could well have initiated the formal action that resulted in the adoption of a gold device created by the firm of Bailey, Banks and Biddle in 1917.

A Year of Innovation
Another coincidence is that the Navy formally adopted the wings the same year another interesting item joined the inventory. It was also in 1917, when some enterprising aviators (sporting their newly acquired wings, no doubt) and a few resourceful mechanics mounted a machine gun to a Curtiss Pusher to create the Navy’s first fighter. The two have made history ever since. But while fighters have certainly evolved, the wings and what they represent have stayed constant.

This brings me to a third significant event that happened just a few months later. The first Naval Aviator achieved the status of ace in that year. LTJG David S. Ingalls achieved this coveted status in the skies over Germany in September 1918. I recently had the honor of addressing many of the surviving Naval Aviator aces, whose victories spanned most of our conflicts, during a reception held in their honor at the Smithsonian Air and Space Museum in Washington, D.C. It was the first time I had the opportunity to meet so many of these truly national heroes. The thing I remember most from that night was the special look I saw in each of their eyes. It was different from the ordinary; it was special. Some things never change.

As I reflected upon that night, I thought there must be some constants that have remained beyond these gold winged fouled anchors that continue to grace the chest of many capable fliers in all of our disciplines. Four readily came to mind.

Four Constants
First has to do with our ability to overcome material shortcomings. The history written by our predecessors in the skies over Germany, Haiti, Nicaragua, Guadalcanal, Normandy, Inchon, Vietnam and the Persian Gulf becomes all the more impressive when you consider the disadvantage Naval Aviators often had just going into the fight.

We pay an inescapable penalty for our ability to operate forward “from the sea.” Our platforms are necessarily heavier and more robust than those of our potential adversaries who are not constrained by operating in the maritime environment, from a small-boy, a carrier deck or an expeditionary airfield. While these penalties have varied over time, we have always maintained the highest standards in our tactics and training which, when coupled with our rugged machines, have allowed us to dominate in battle.

Part of the answer also has to do with another of those constants of Naval Aviation — special people. No matter what technology has brought us or done for us, success has always been a result of quality people being the essential part of Naval Aviation that makes the difference. Technology will never replace the courage, skill and determination needed to overcome our incurred “penalty.”

These qualities were abundantly clear when I looked into the faces of those famed aces that night in the Smithsonian. While these qualities aren’t necessarily taught or acquired by other means, they are at the heart of every Naval Aviator. They join with a third constant I thought of that night — the will to win.

Our sailors, Marines and the civilians who comprise the winning team at the Naval Air Systems Command have positioned Naval Aviation to enter the 21st century riding a wave of incredible technological advances and system efficiencies. I could certainly fill these pages with the many fine programs, research and development successes, and support accomplishments of our depots and product divisions.

People Make the Difference
But impressive technology like the Joint Strike Fighter, the V-22, the Joint Standoff Weapon and the F/A-18 E/F (to name only a very few of the many systems and programs of the NavAir team) cannot eliminate the requirement for quality people who make the difference. No matter what doors technology opens for us, the need will always be there for the best kind of people in the cockpits, at the control panels or in the maintenance shops. Any penalty we incur by being expeditionary and operating forward from the sea will always be made up for by the dividends we receive from having people on the team whom are second to none, truly a cut above. The technology advances at double time, but the need for quality people remains constant. And, the proud tradition started on USS Birmingham’s (CL-2) makeshift deck in 1910, continued through many wars and conflicts to this day, remains a comforting constant. It’s our people who make the technology work, not vice versa.

I’m not alone in claiming that we are on the verge of a new “Golden Age” of Naval Aviation. With exciting technology either in the pipeline or in development, it’s easy to get excited about Naval Aviation’s future. But we must not overlook the most critical element. We at the Naval Air Systems Command can, and do, provide cutting edge technology, but it’s the Naval Aviators and the top quality men and women who support them that make Naval Aviation and, on a larger scale, our Navy the finest in the world.

I leave you with the final constant — night flying and its relationship to pucker factor. Some things never change.

VADM John A. Lockard was born in Mobile and raised in Chickasaw, Ala. He began flight training in June 1964, graduating from NAS Kingsville in February 1966.

He reported to his first operational assignment with VA-112 and completed two WestPac combat cruises aboard USS Kitty Hawk (CVA-63). He earned his Bachelor’s degree in Aeronautical Engineering from the Naval Postgraduate School in 1971. After completing A-7 transition training, he was assigned to VA-215, where he completed a third combat WestPac cruise aboard Oriskany (CVA-34) and logged his 332nd combat mission. Later assignments included the F/A-18 class desk, NavAirSysCom, executive officer of VA-122 and command of VA-25. Following F/A-18 transition, he commanded the F/A-18 fleet readiness squadron, VFA-125.

Following a tour as the executive officer of Coral Sea (CV-43), he returned to NavAirSysCom to serve as the F/A-18 program manager and as assistant commander for systems and engineering. He subsequently served with the Assistant Secretary of the Navy for Research, Development and Acquisition as the program executive officer for tactical aircraft programs.

He assumed command of the Naval Air Systems Command at NAS Patuxent River, Md., in March 1995.