![]() Thomas Parker, a graduate of Virginia Military Institute, was commissioned an ensign in 1976 after completing aviation officer candidate school in Pensacola, Fla. I leave Kitty Hawk knowing that she is ready to answer our nation’s call, when and if it comes,” he added, according to the news release.īarbaree’s next assignment will be as chief of staff to Commander, Operational Test and Evaluation Force.Ĭapt. “I am humbled and honored to have spent the last several months commanding such respectable and honorable Americans. Barbaree said he “was blessed to serve with a crew that refuses to quit and I’m thankful for that.” Under Barbaree, Kitty Hawk has totaled more than three months at sea in the Western Pacific Theater and Indian Ocean.ĭuring the ceremony, Barbaree thanked his former crew, according to the news release. ![]() Most recently, Barbaree led the ship to the Central Command area of responsibility for possible future operations in the Middle East, including Iraq. The result was a timely completion of extensive improvements to the Kitty Hawk’s engineering plant, according to 7th Fleet. ![]() ![]() Robert Willard relieved Hejl of command of the forward-deployed aircraft carrier, citing a loss of confidence in his leadership abilities.īarbaree, who was serving as 7th Fleet’s assistant chief of staff for operations, plans and engagement, hit the ground running, implementing longer work hours and firing 11 members of the crew, including the ship’s chief engineer. In September, 7th Fleet commander Vice Adm. Baker was the USS Belleau Wood’s chief engineer when Parker was skipper. Jeff Baker, Amphibious Group ONE’s training and readiness officer, said Parker had a “positive effect” on his career. He assumed command of the Essex in July 2000.Īs an aviator, Parker has logged more than 3,500 hours and 650 arrested landings in the E-2C Hawkeye. As skipper of the USS Belleau Wood, he oversaw the Sasebo-based ship’s completion of the Navy’s largest and most successful hull swap to date, with the USS Essex. Space Command at Peterson Air Force Base in Colorado Springs, Colo. Parker recently completed a tour as Delta Crew Command director assigned to Cheyenne Mountain Operations Center and as vice director for plans at Headquarters, U.S. “We’re in the fast lane out here,” Parker told the crew, according to a Navy news release, “and as you know, there are no exits in the fast lane. The only thing more humorous was seeing Parker hobble around most weeks at training.As the ship’s 32nd commanding officer, Parker joined the crew en route to the Middle East. He described that captain’s run as “comical”. Now I’m playing my 100th game.”Ĭherry-Evans said Parker was one of the funniest people he had met, and his humour kept spirits high in the change room. “‘Baz’ was coach, we had a couple of beers at the end of the game, and he said, ‘I tell you what Parks, lucky we’re in Perth because I would have chased any other bloke to come in and replace you if we were still at home’. ‘Much like every other redhead’s life, he’s had to scrap and fight for everything he’s ever got.’ Daly Cherry-Evans I ended up playing alright, Vatuvei got into me, but we won. Tommy was my roommate and I was staring at him at 3am because I was just so terrified. “Even after the training session, Jamie came up to me and said, ‘what would you rate that session out of 10?’, and I said, ‘probably a two’, and Jamie said, ‘where the f-k did you get a two?’.
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