USS John C. Stennis Departments Achieve Excellence

Commander, Naval Air Forces Pacific and Commander, Naval Air Forces (COMNAVAIRFOR) awarded aircraft carrier departmental awards to multiple departments aboard the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS John C. Stennis (CVN 74) Feb. 24.

Departments earned these awards by achieving superior levels of readiness during training and inspections.
Stennis earned 12 departmental efficiency awards for 2013: the Air Yellow “E,” Aircraft Intermediate Maintenance Black “E,” Damage Control Red “DC,” Deck White Crossed Anchors with Black “D,” Environmental Protection Energy and Conservation Award, Health Services Blue “M,” Navigation White Ship’s Wheel, Reactor Red “E,” Safety Green “S,” Security Black “S,” Supply Blue “E,” and Carrier Maintenance Purple “E.”
These awards will be represented by the designated letter and color being painted on the side of the ships super structure

“to safely and efficiently execute our demanding mission, it takes an incredible amount of professionalism, technical expertise and pure old-fashioned hard work,” said Cmdr. Darren Guenther, the head of Stennis’ Air Department, also known as the Air Boss. “Our Sailors strive for excellence every day and I’m incredibly proud of them.”

Stennis is currently undergoing a Docking Planned Incremental Availability (DPIA) maintenance period at Puget Sound Naval Shipyard and Intermediate Maintenance Facility.

Press Release, March 3, 2014, 2014; Image: Wikimedia