PROFESSIONAL ACHIEVEMENT IN THE SUPERIOR PERFORMANCE OF HIS DUTIES WHILE SERVING AS CATAPULT SUPERVISOR AND REPAIR PARTS PETTY OFFICER ONBOARD USS DWIGHT D. EISENHOWER (CVN 69) FROM OCTOBER 2023 TO DECEMBER 2023. PETTY OFFICER SMITH'S OUTSTANDING SUPERVISORY ROLE IN THE CATAPULT SHOP LED TO THE RELENTLESS MATERIAL CONDITIONS OF ALL FOUR CATAPULTS, FACILITATING THE SUCCESSFUL AND TIMELY LAUNCH OF MORE THAN 1200 AIRCRAFT. IN ADDITION, AS THE REPAIR PARTS PETTY OFFICER FOR AUXILIARY DIVISION, HE REPAIRED AND ACQUIRED MORE THAN 525 REPAIR PARTS, LEADING TO THE COMPLETION OF MORE THAN 200 CRITICAL WORK ORDERS. PETTY OFFICER SMITH'S EXCEPTIONAL PROFESSIONALISM, UNRELENTING PERSEVERANCE, AND SELFLESS DEVOTION TO DUTY REFLECTED CREDIT UPON HIM AND WERE IN KEEPING WITH THE HIGHEST TRADITIONS OF THE UNITED STATES NAVAL SERVICE.

---

Chief Morelli held two prominent positions while serving in an Individual Augmentee (IA) billet at Isa Airfield, Bahrain between 01JUN2014 and 30APR2015. His BOG billet was that of Air Operations Senior Enlisted Leader (SEL) Isa Air Base, Bahrain. His performance and professionalism was superior at this position. However, later a higher calling was planned for him by OCT2014. He was chosen by the OIC to take a profound and highly visible role as the Isa Air Base Billeting LCPO to manage an over 3200 bed facility. In both positions the Chief brought enduing achievements and pioneering practices.

AIR OPERATIONS SEL:
- The Chief quickly gained the acceptance of his superiors and troops by stressing the importance of their job and how it relates to the overall mission. He quickly assessed each sailor's background matching them up with positions that would enable each division to speed up the many qualifications and certification required for each crew to operate vital equipment. In orchestrating the process each division filled qualified operators positions it the first week of BOG; a first achievement. (Ref A)

- Chief distinguished himself through outstanding professional performance while serving as the Air Operations SEL from June 1 2014 to Sept. 15 2014, and repeated this performance as Isa Air Base's Billeting LCPO from Sept 15 2014 to Apr 30 2015, for U.S. Naval Forces Central Command (COMUSNAVCENT) Fifth Fleet. Chief Morelli leadership involved every facet of daily logistical operations leaving a lasting impact upon the Command and his customers. Consistently raising command standards to unprecedented levels, he clearly set himself apart from his contemporaries. His commitment to excellence made him an invaluable asset to the Command, significantly contributing to its operational readiness. During the Chief's term zero incidents were reported on Safety, Mishaps and Liberty behavior.

- He led a department initially of 49 multiservice enlisted personnel then down to 34 within 6 divisions (Terminal, Facilities, Base Operations, Customs, Fuel Farm and Admin.) He faced challenges that arise from the ingratiation of a multiservice crew consisting of Army Corps, Air Force and Navy personnel but his talent to lead solidified trusts and eliminated dereferences among the diverse groups allowing them to focus more on the mission as a team.

- Chief Morelli's staff was always encouraged to be innovative and they were. A PO2 ignited the idea to start an EAWS program with the neighboring VP squadron. The Chief welcomed this idea and with the help of VP10 and LSA RFF Admin the program was approved and implemented August 2014 and continues under the oncoming squadron VP26. It is a great success with over 40 awardees in the past 6 months. (Ref. B)

- Chief supervised and coordinated AirOps personnel on 3 diverted aircraft attached to the USS HW Bush CVN 77 to Isa Airfield. Though the event was troubling the experience was invaluable to personnel. Chief Morelli took the opportunity to include division personnel to either observe or perform a duty. Recognition for a job well done was given from both LSA and CVN 77. (Ref B)

- At the time the Fuel Farm facility fell under Chief Morelli leadership. The Fuel Farm faced many issues that could have potentially shut this service down militarily. Working with the Fuel Farm Air Force supervisor the Chief quickly put into motion to assess Fuel Farm deficiencies to include remedied for shortfalls (Ref D) He along with SSgt Welty constructed and submitted a complete assessment memorandum on Fuel Farm, though not confirmed action was significant once the information linked up with the proper channels. (Ref E)

- Blown tire assistance. VP10 experience a blown port tire upon take-off emergency contingency plan developed from the past diverted aircraft was set in motion. Aircraft was able to successfully land however airstrip suffers extreme debris field and aircraft suffered hot brakes which alarm the fire crew. AirOps team was call to duty and in remark time was able to clear the entire length of air strip debris as wheel as scattered the disable aircraft back to the flight line for assessment and repair. Many Bravo Zulus ensued.

---

- The mission of Air Ops was to provide 24/7 missions critical services in cargo and flight line handling, flight scheduling and controlling, air craft fueling, customs and more to neighboring tenant commands. The tenant commands consist of 2 Navy Patrol squadrons VP10 and VQ1, 1Marine Corps MAG50 F/A-18 Hornet Fighter squadron, 1 KC-130 Hercules squadron for transporting and cargo and perform refueling. The airbase was also designated as an emergency divert airfield for squadron for munitions transporting munitions and cargo and perform refueling airbase was also designated as an emergency divert airfield for distressed aircraft on missions in which Air Ops would participate in recovery actions. During Chief Morelli's tenure his team is a credited to the completion of over 4,785 mishaps free flight sorties with over 14,126 flight hours and the safe handling and movement of more than 1,400,000 pounds cargo, encompassing 105 airlifts, of cargo and munitions for warfighting ships and aircraft. (Ref B)

- Chief Morelli managed Air Operations projects involving flight line and airfield improvements to include flood control trenches and berms, weather station ground equipment installation, new parking facilities access and passes, overhauling of the BAK-12/14 arresting gear, ensuring the safe arrestment of aircraft emergency diverts. Although these projects were handed off with the Chief's move to Billeting he kept a close eye on their progress and their eventual completion.

- His goal to standardized methods, actively mentor and delegating tasks in a short span led to more than 20 new qualifications by his department's Sailors, including: 5 Air Traffic Controller (ATC) qualifications and 10 designated LPOs on two shifts Fuels: 12 Sailors under-wing fueling/defueling R-14, R-22, R-11; Facilities: 8 Sailors on 6K and 10K forklifts, 8 Halverson K-LOADER License, facilities Sailors (AT,AM,AS) 100 percent qualified on all ground support equipment for P-3 and F/A-18 operations; Terminal: 7 sailors on 6K and 10K forklifts, and 20 qualifications as Flight Line Observer, Aircraft Handler/Director, Air Terminal Representative, and Cargo Handler. Furthermore, his Sailors facilitated the airfield driver license course, qualifying over 25 personnel.

- Chief Morelli performed duties at the Operational level as a member of the Air Boss staff. The Chief would face his greatest challenge when handed down the responsibly of acting Air Boss due to the Air Boss taking a 3 week leave. Between the Chief and the Air Operations officer located at LSA they proved to be very capable duo in running Air Operations as several inbound and outbound flights continued, including two emergency diverted aircraft. This was a remarkable undertaking to be appreciated. (Ref C)

- Chief expertise as Senior Enlisted Leader was essential to the providing guidance to individual with regard to discipline. He profoundly made a difference in junior sailor's lives. His approachable demeanor and caring attitude made him a highly sought after Chief for wayward sailors no matter their rank or profession. Chief Morelli can confident testify to the rehabilitation of 4 to 5 shipmates. The Chief also participated in 5 Liberty Risk Review Boards, 10 CDBs, 15 informal counseling sessions, 2 formal counseling sessions, 1 Inspector General Interview.

- Chief is a consummate professional able to blend diverse groups of people into a viable productive team. His style of leadership is not easily explained, but it works. In fact by the end of his tour he will have developed 3 separate teams recognized for their performance in two completely two different departments Air Operations and Billeting.

***The Chief has my highest recommendation and deserves to be awarded the Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal. ***

---

AS WORK CENTER 620 PRODUCTION SUPERVISOR, AIRCRAFT INTERMEDIATE MAINTENANCE DETACHMENT IWAKUNI, JAPAN FROM NOVEMBER 2017 TO NOVEMBER 2019. PETTY OFFICER HERRINGTON PERFORMED HIS DUTIES IN AN EXEMPLARY AND HIGHLY PROFESSIONAL MANNER. HE LED TEN SAILORS IN THE REPAIR OF 1,260 MAINTENANCE ACTIONS TO INCLUDE THREE CRITICAL AECTS DISCREPANCIES, 141 GENERATORS, AND 67 F/A-18 AND E-2D COMPONENTS ENCOMPASSING 2754 MAINTENANCE MAN-HOURS IN DIRECT SUPPORT OF FORWARD DEPLOYED CARRIER AIR WING FIVE. HIS LEADERSHIP EFFORTS RESULTED IN THE ADVANCEMENT OF TWO SAILORS TO THE NEXT PAY GRADE, TWO SAILORS SELECTED OF THE QUARTER, FIVE COLLATERAL DUTY INSPECTORS, AND FIVE BATTERY MAINTENANCE TECHNICIANS INCREASING READINESS BY 73 PERCENT.

---

MERITORIOUS SERVICE WHILE SERVING AS CONTRACT SPECIALIST AND CONTINGENCY CONTRACTING OFFICER, SPECIAL OPERATIONS COMMAND (FORWARD) YEMEN FROM OCTOBER 2010 TO FEBRUARY 2012. AS THE LEAD SPECIALIST FOR H-60 SIERRA AIRCRAFT ACCEPTANCE, LIEUTENANT COMMANDER JACKSON SUPERVISED CONTRACTURAL TURNOVER OF ONE HUNDRED MILLION DOLLARS IN NEW HELICOPTERS FROM SIKORSKY TO THE FLEET. ADDITIONALLY, HE MANAGED KEY RELATIONSHIPS WITH PRIME CONTRACTORS AND NAVAIR'S H-60 MULTI MISSION HELICOPTER PROGRAM (PMA-299), AND RESOLVED ISSUES WITH COMMON DATA LINK, ARMED HELO RETROFIT "A KITS", AND NVD LIGHTING WHICH SIGNIFICANTLY IMPROVED SQUADRON CAPABILITY AND FLEET READINESS. ADDITIONALLY, HE MAINTAINED ALL CONTRACT ACTIONS FOR A COMMAND AND CONTROL HEADQUARTERS ELEMENT AND SIX SPECIAL OPERATIONS JOINT ADVISORY TEAMS CONSISTING OF 80 PERSONNEL AND ADMINISTERED CONTRACTS VALUED AT MORE THAN SEVEN MILLION DOLLARS. HIS OVERSIGHT OF THE CONSTRUCTION, SECURITY, VEHICLE, REAL ESTATE AND COMMUNICATIONS EQUIPMENT CONTRACTS IMPROVED SOCFWD YEMEN'S MISSION EFFECTIVENESS IN ONE OF THE PRESIDENT'S HIGHEST PRIORITY CONTINGENCY ENVIRONMENTS. LIEUTENANT COMMANDER JACKSON'S INITIATIVE, PERSEVERANCE, AND UNSWERVING DEDICATION TO DUTY REFLECTED GREAT CREDIT UPON HIM AND WERE IN KEEPING WITH THE HIGHEST TRADITIONS OF THE UNITED STATES NAVAL SERVICE.

---

FOR HEROIC ACHIEVEMENT WHILE SERVING AS AIRCRAFT COMMANDER OF A TASK FORCE 72 SURVEILLANCE MISSION IN SUPPORT OF OPERATION ENDURING FREEDOM PHILIPPINES. WHILE PROVIDING LIFE SAVING AWARENESS OF ENEMY POSITIONS TO GROUND FORCES, LIEUTENANT HARDEN'S PLANE INCURRED A "FIRE OF UNKNOWN ORIGIN". IN THIS SITUATION, EMERGENCY PROCEDURES DIRECT THE AIRCREW TO CLIMB TO A SAFE ALTITUDE, DON OXYGEN MASKS, ELIMINATE THE FIRE SOURCE, AND RETURN TO HOME STATION. LIEUTENANT HARDEN, UNDERSTANDING THE IMPLICATIONS FOR TROOPS ON THE GROUND, AND WITH COMPLETE DISREGARD FOR HIS PERSONAL SAFETY, DIRECTED THE AIRCREW TO STAY AT PRESENT ALTITUDE AND REMOVED OTHER PERSONNEL FROM THE VICINITY OF THE AFFECTED AREA. HE THEN SELFLESSLY ASSUMED ALL RISK AND APPROACHED A SMOKING EQUIPMENT BAY WITHOUT AN OXYGEN MASK AND SUCCESSFULLY ELIMINATED THE SOURCE. AS A RESULT OF HIS ACTIONS, THE AIRCRAFT WAS RENDERED SAFE AND THE AIRCREW WAS ABLE TO PROVIDED UNINTERRUPTED SUPPORT FOR TROOPS IN AN ACTIVE FIREFIGHT. LIEUTENANT HARDEN'S LEADERSHIP, INITIATIVE, AND TOTAL DEDICATION TO DUTY REFLECTED CREDIT UPON HIM AND WERE IN KEEPING WITH THE HIGHEST TRADITIONS OF THE UNITED STATES NAVAL SERVICE.

---

PROFESSIONAL ACHIEVEMENT WHILE SERVING AS AVIATION RADAR TECHNICIAN, MARINE AIR SUPPORT SQUADRON THREE, MARINE AIR CONTROL GROUP 38, 3D MARINE AIRCRAFT WING, FROM FEBRUARY 2022 TO APRIL 2023. DURING THIS PERIOD, SERGEANT ARPITA SERVED AS A RADAR TECHNICIAN FOR THE AN/TPS-80 RADAR AND COMPOSITE TRACKING NETWORK IN SUPPORT OF EXERCISES AT THE MARINE EXPEDITIONARY FORCE AND JOINT SERVICE LEVELS. SERGEANT ARPITA'S ACTIONS IN THE PHILIPPINES MARKED THE FIRST TIME THE AN/TPS-80 WAS DEPLOYED IN THE U.S. INDO-PACIFIC REGION BY I MARINE EXPEDITIONARY FORCE AND DIRECTLY ENHANCED TACTICS, TECHNIQUES, AND PROCEDURES FOR FUTURE MULTIFUNCTION AIR OPERATIONS CENTER DEPLOYMENTS AND BILATERAL TRAINING EXERCISES. ADDITIONALLY, DURING PROJECT CONVERGENCE 22, HE COLLABORATED WITH ARMY AND CIVILIAN PERSONNEL TO SUPPORT THE JOINT TACTICAL INTEGRATED FIRE CONTROL NETWORK THROUGH THE EMPLOYMENT OF ORGANIC NETWORK TECHNOLOGY, SUCCESSFULLY INTEGRATING ARMY AND MARINE CORPS SYSTEMS AND EXPEDITING JOINT KILL CHAINS. SERGEANT ARPITA'S NOTEWORTHY ACCOMPLISHMENTS, PERSEVERANCE AND DEDICATION TO DUTY REFLECTED CREDIT UPON HIM AND WERE IN KEEPING WITH THE HIGHEST TRADITIONS OF THE MARINE CORPS AND THE UNITED STATES NAVAL SERVICE.