Panama City Native Keeps Navy Wing Flying
By Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Jesse Hawthorne, Navy Office of Community Outreach Photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Theodore Quintana
Petty Officer 1st Class Summer Dannelley is a Navy counselor serving with Commander, Patrol and Reconnaissance Wing 11 (CPRW-11). A Navy counselor is responsible for conducting reenlistments and retirements and other special programs.
“My favorite part about my job is when other sailors figure out what path they want to take and being able to help them with that,” said Dannelley. “I also really enjoy educating sailors.”
Dannelley credits success in the Navy to many of the lessons learned in Panama City. “Being a military brat makes me diverse and able to adapt,” said Dannelley.
The P-8A Poseidon is a multi-mission aircraft that is replacing the legacy P-3C Orion. Those who fly in the P-8A hunt for submarines and surface ships as well as conduct intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance missions. The P-8A operates with a smaller crew than the P-3C, and it also delivers an extended global reach, greater payload capacity, and higher operating altitude. It also has an open-systems architecture with significant growth potential.
According to Navy officials, there are more than 15 Navy patrol squadrons in the U.S. and eight of those squadrons belong to Wing Eleven, headquartered in Jacksonville, Florida. This means that those who serve here are part of the first “Super Wing” in Maritime Patrol and Reconnaissance history, ready to deploy and defend America and allies around the world.
Wing Eleven recently added the Navy’s newest squadron to its arsenal: Unmanned Patrol Squadron Nineteen (VP-19), flying the MQ-4C Triton Unmanned Aerial System (UAS). The P-8A and MQ-4C will serve as the future of the Maritime Patrol and Reconnaissance Force, according to Navy officials.
When asked about his plans following his assumption of command ceremony in June, Capt. Craig T. Mattingly, Commodore, Patrol and Reconnaissance Wing 11 said, “Our focus will be to take care of our most precious assets, the men and women of (Wing Eleven). We will sustain current readiness of our P-8A squadrons and reserve P-3C squadron while incorporating the MQ-4C Triton into the maritime patrol and reconnaissance force.”
Though there are many ways for sailors to earn distinction in their command, community, and career, Dannelley is most proud of converting to navy counselor from a quartermaster.
“When I was a junior sailor I didn’t have that mentorship, so I try to do that for my sailors so they don’t have to go through the same hardships,” Dannelley said.
As a member of one of the U.S. Navy’s most relied upon assets, Dannelley and other sailors know they are part of a legacy that will last beyond their lifetimes, one that will provide a critical component of the Navy the nation needs.
“It’s different from the fleet, it’s a whole different world and it’s interesting to see this side of the Navy,” said Dannelley.
“Serving in the Navy is an honor,” said Dannelley. “The fact that not everyone is willing or able to take the oath and serve our country makes it more special to me that I serve. It’s a tremendous honor.”