NAS Pensacola-area FY 2026 Chief Pinning Ceremony
PENSACOLA, Fla. -- Naval Air Station (NAS) Pensacola-area Chief Petty Officers hosted the Fiscal Year (FY) 2026 Chief Petty Officer Pinning Ceremony Sept. 16 in the Naval Air Technical Training Center's (NATTC) Charles Taylor Hangar.
The more than 40 Pensacola-area Chief Petty Officer selectees completed six weeks of rigorous training and team building exercises during a time-honored program designed to foster teamwork and a deeper understanding of the leadership role they would undertake, culminating in the pinning ceremony.
In addition to U.S. Navy Chiefs receiving anchors during the hour-long ceremony, newly promoted E-7’s in both the U.S. Marine Corps and the U.S. Air Force also participated in the Chief Petty Officer initiation process, being pinned and covered and recognized as part of the Chief Petty Officer Mess.
PENSASCOLA, Fla.- Chief Master-at-Arms (SW/AW/IW/EXW) Richelle Hill, assigned to Naval Air Station Pensacola, arrives after being pinned to the rank of Chief Petty Officer at the Chief pinning ceremony at Naval Air Training Command onboard Naval Air Station (NAS) Pensacola, Sept. 16, 2025.
PENSACOLA, Fla.-- Chief Operations Specialist (SW/AW) Kevin Allen, assigned to NAS Pensacola, is covered and pinned during the Pensacola-area Chief Petty Officer pinning ceremony Sept. 16 at Naval Air Technical Training Center's (NATTC) Charles Taylor hangar onboard Naval Air Station (NAS) Pensacola.
The End of An Era
PENSACOLA, Fla. – A Helicopter Training Squadron (HT) 28 TH-57C Sea Ranger landed at Naval Air Station (NAS) Pensacola’s Sherman Field Sept. 19, marking the end of the aircraft’s service and of the TH-57 program after 57 years as the primary training helicopter for the U.S. Navy, U.S. Marine Corps and U.S. Coast Guard.
More than 100 spectators, naval aviators and aviation enthusiasts gathered at Sherman Field as HT-28 Commanding Officer Cmdr. James Gelsinon and HT-28 instructor pilot Lt. Cmdr. Mike Allert flew the aircraft from NAS Whiting Field’s CTW 5 to NAS Pensacola’s Sherman Field flightline, for transfer for induction into the National Naval Aviation Museum’s NNAM) inventory.
Gelsinon presented the aircraft’s aviation logbook to NNAM Director Sterling Gilliam during a brief ceremony after the aircraft landed.
The TH-57C Sea Ranger provided advanced instrument flight rules (IFR) training to several hundred aviation students annually at NAS Whiting Field in Milton, Florida, Collectively, the platform flew more than 3.3 million flight hours, training 33,902 student aviators.
After 57 years of service training Navy, Marine, and Coast Guard aviators, the TH-57 has been replaced by the TH-73A Thrasher, marking new and advanced training for rotary training.
PENSACOLA, Fla.-- A TH-57C Sea Ranger from Naval Air Station (NAS) Whiting Field's Training Air Wing 5 lands outside the National Naval Aviation Museum (NNAM) onboard Naval Air Station Pensacola Sept. 19. The aircraft, callsign 'Lucky 106,' made its final operational flight for its transfer for induction into the NNAM inventory. After 57 years of service as a training platform for Navy, Marine, and Coast Guard aviators, the TH-57 has been replaced by the TH-73A Thrasher, marking new and advanced training for rotary training.
PENSACOLA, Fla.-- Helicopter Training Squadron Twenty Eight (HT-28) Commanding Officer Cmdr. James Gelsinon, right, presents a TH-57C Sea Ranger aviation log book to National Naval Aviation Museum (NNAM) Director Sterling Gilliam Sept. 19. Gelsinon, along with HT-28 Instructor Pilot Lt. Cmdr. Mike Allert flew the aircraft from HT-28 at Naval Air Station (NAS) Whiting Field to the NNAM for transfer and induction into the museum’s inventory. After 57 years of service training Navy, Marine, and Coast Guard aviators, the TH-57 has been replaced by the TH-73A Thrasher, marking new and advanced training for rotary training.
PENSACOLA, Fla.-- Helicopter Training Squadron 28 (HT-28) pilots sign the door of 'Lucky 106' during a ceremony celebrating the TH-57C Sea Ranger's final operational flight. The aircraft, callsign 'Lucky 106,' was flown from Naval Air Station (NAS) Whiting Field to NAS Pensacola's Sherman Field for transfer and induction into the National Naval Aviation Museum (NNAM) inventory. After 57 years of service as a training platform for Navy, Marine, and Coast Guard aviators, the TH-57 has been replaced by the TH-73A Thrasher, marking new and advanced training for rotary training.
NAS Pensacola Celebrates the Navy Ombudsman Program
We’ve all heard the phrase “it takes a village” From advocacy to resource management and crisis communication, it is safe to say that the Navy Ombudsman serves as that “village” for their command.
The Navy Family Ombudsman Program is a Navy-wide program established to improve mission readiness. A strong command Ombudsman Program, both ashore and afloat, helps to ensure that families have the information necessary to meet the challenges of a military lifestyle.
Ombudsmen are Navy spouse volunteers, appointed by the commanding officer and they serve two important roles. They are a communication link between the commanding officer and command families and they are professionally trained information and referral specialists for the command's families.
NAS Pensacola Commanding Officer Capt. Chandra 'Mamasan' Newman recognized the importance of the Ombudsman program during an NAS Pensacola Fleet and Family Support Center (FFSC) organized Sept. 18 ceremony at the installation’s Religious Ministries Department’s J.B. McKamey Center. Newman recognized ombudsmen from the air station’s numerous tenant commands and signed a proclamation denoting Navy Family Ombudsman Program Appreciation Day.
“These extraordinary men and women have been an invaluable resource for our families,” Newman said. “Our Ombudsman are shining examples of selfless service, who make lasting contributions to family readiness, which ultimately drives operational readiness.”
PENSACOLA, Fla. -- Naval Air Station (NAS) Pensacola Commanding Officer Capt. Chandra 'Mamasan' Newman signs a proclamation denoting Navy Family Ombudsman Program Appreciation Day during a small Sept. 18 ceremony at the McKamey Center onboard the installation. Navy ombudsmen serve as an information link between command leadership and command families who might not have a means of direct communication to commanders and other influential people.
PENSACOLA, Fla.-- Naval Air Station (NAS) Pensacola Commanding Officer Capt. Chandra 'Mamasan' Newman and Command Master Chief (SW/AW/FMF) Jim Wallace present a certificate of appreciation to Mrs. Izumi Selvidge, the Ombudsman for NAS Pensacola.
PENSACOLA, Fla. – Naval Air Station (NAS) Pensacola Commanding Officer Capt. Chandra ‘Mamasan’ Newman, NAS Pensacola Ombudsmen Izumi Selvidge and NAS Pensacola Fleet and Family Support Center (FFSC) Ombudsmen Coordinator Paul Maxwell cut a cake during the (FFSC)-organized Sept. 18 Ombudsmen Appreciation ceremony at the installation’s Religious Ministries Department’s J.B. McKamey Center.
PENSACOLA, Fla. – Naval Air Station (NAS) Pensacola-area ombudsmen were recognized during the installation’s Fleet and Family Support Center (FFSC)-organized Sept. 18 Ombudsmen Appreciation ceremony at the installation’s Religious Ministries Department’s J.B. McKamey Center.
The Pensacola- Area Navy Ball
Tickets
CLICK on the respective link below to purchase your tickets:
250th Pensacola Area Navy Ball (E-4 and Junior)
250th Pensacola Area Navy Ball (E-5)
250th Pensacola Area Navy Ball (E-6)
250th Pensacola Area Navy Ball (E-7 and Above)
250th Pensacola Area Navy Ball (Civilians)
Points of Contact:
HMC Trier Lane - trier.n.lane.mil@health.mil or HM1 Shikia Suggs - shikia.l.suggs.mil@health.mil
Individuals interested in more information are advised to email both Lane and Suggs for tracking purposes.
The 2025 Naval Air Station (NAS) Pensacola Blue Angels Homecoming Airshow has been rescheduled to Nov. 14 and 15.
The Car Care Center onboard Naval Air Station Pensacola will re-open Sept. 30. In response to questions from authorized patrons, please note the following: The car care center will be charging sales tax, as required by all other on-base vendors. The labor cost will be $110 per hour. However, all military discounts that are offered in-town will also be offered at the car care center on-base. Lastly, all prior NEX service agreements will be honored.
Sailor for Life is the Navy's biannual magazine for veterans, retirees, and their families. It updates the Navy community about their benefits and changes to policies and programs that affect them. More than just a publication, it is a trusted source for staying informed and connected.
Sailor for Life, Issue #3, Fall-Winter 2025-2026 is now available. Visit the Sailor for Life webpage at https://www.mynavyhr.navy.mil/Media-Center/Publications/Sailor-for-Life/?utm_medium=dfas&utm_source=dfas.mil&utm_campaign=Sailor+for+Life+Fall+2025 and click on "Download the Current Issue (PDF)."
Credits:
Bruce Cummins, NAS Pensacola Public Affairs Officer; Garrett Dipuma, NAS Pensacola Public Affairs Office;