Continued on page 3

S ailors and Marines aboard the aircraft carrier USS Nimitz (CVN 68) gathered in the ship’s forward mess decks to

celebrate the Navy Hospital Corps’ 115th anniversary, June 17.

Nimitz’ Medical Department hosted the ceremony to share the history of the

Continued on page 3

he Aviation Maintenance Administrationman (AZ) rate is an administrative and clerical job that involves interaction with all aviation

maintenance ratings on board the aircraft carrier USS Nimitz (CVN 68).

“The difference between an AZ and a YN [yeoman] is that the paperwork starts with the AZs and ends up with YNs,” said Aviation Maintenance Administrationman Airman Darron L. Lewis, of Modesto, Calif.

AZs are in charge of a variety of duties that help keep the aviation departments on board Nimitz running. These duties include, but are not limited

to: scheduling aircraft inspections, preparing reports and correspondence, maintaining engine logbooks and associated aircraft records, and issuing aircraft inspection and work orders.

“We administer aviation maintenance,” said Lewis. “Every job is different depending on where you are stationed. We are attached to ships, squadrons and shore billets.”

TStory and Photos by MC3 Linda S. Swearingen

Continued on page 3

ADMINISTRATING EXCELLENCE

June 21, 2013 Vol. 2 Issue 48

Editor

MC2 (SW) Jason Behnke

Lead Designer

MC3 (SW) George J. Penney III

Nimitz News accepts submissions in writing. All submissions are subject to review and screening. ”Nimitz News” is an authorized publication for the members of the military services and their families. Its content does not necessarily reflect the official views of the U.S. Government, the Department of Defense, the Department of the Navy, or the Marine Corps and does not imply endorsement thereby.

Public Affairs Officer

LCDR Karin Burzynski

Commanding Officer

CAPT Jeff Ruth

Executive Officer

CDR John Cummings

Command Master Chief

CMDCM Teri McIntyre

2

Sailor of the Day

LSSN Mario Garciacantu

Logistics Specialist Seaman Mario Garciacantu, of Houston, Texas, was named Sailor of the Day June 20 on board the aircraft carrier USS

Nimitz (CVN 68).Seaman Garciacantu performed his demanding

duties in an exemplary and highly professional manner.

“Everyone’s been congratulating me, it’s been nice,” said Garciacantu.

Garciacantu meticulously processed 350 receipts for stock, conducted location audits and inventories of seven nuclear material storerooms containing more than 15,000 line items valued at 18 million dollars.

Garciacantu’s future plans include staying in the Navy and becoming a supply officer.

He displayed tremendous initiative in reorganizing three storerooms, improving their respective validities exceeding TYCOM goals and directly impacting the readiness of the Reactor Department.

“I worked hard and went above and beyond what anyone asked of me,” he said. “That’s all you have to do.”

On his off time Garciacantu enjoys studying, working on cars and barbecuing.

Seaman Garciacantu’s initiative, loyalty and total devotion to his duty led to his selection as Nimitz’ Sailor of the Day and are in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.

Story and Photos by MCSA Victoria Ochoa

3

Those AZs who are attached to a ship’s company are considered “I” level which means intermediate. “I” level AZs take care of paperwork for the maintenance of support equipment. “O” level stands for operational. AZs attached to “O” level do paperwork on the aircraft itself such as flight hours, weights and balances for certain components and hydraulic fluid samples.

“The AZ rate has many facets, so there is no primary job,” said Aviation Maintenance Administrationman 1st Class Jeffrey L. Holbrook, of Orlando, Fla. “Myself and some of my fellow AZ’s say we have to know everything from A to Z.”

The job of an AZ is important because if the maintenance isn’t properly documented, it can be very dangerous for anyone involved in working with aviation materials.

“If one of the wheels falls off a piece of equipment or it doesn’t work properly, then there could be ordnance all over the flight deck or the hangar bay,” said Lewis.

Lewis says he enjoys being an AZ because every day is different and no day is similar to the next.

“For instance, if an incident happens with our equipment it is considered unscheduled maintenance, and it is our job to document everything by handwriting forms,” said Lewis. “There can be eight forms for one piece of equipment; so it can add up very quickly. Other days there might be a lot of scheduled

maintenance, depending on the maintenance cycle.” According to Holbrook, the most rewarding part

of his job is being able to help his fellow Sailors with any training they require.

The AZs on board Nimitz are a small group, but they come together to ensure that all the proper paperwork and procedures are being followed with the aviation materials on board so daily aviation operations run smoothly.

“I enjoy the work center where I work because we are different rates, but we are all one big Navy family,” said Holbrook.

Continued from page 1

4

Meet the XO

he executive officer aboard the aircraft carrier USS Nimitz (CVN 68), Cmdr. John Cummings, comes across as direct,

approachable and resolute about his objectives for his time aboard Nimitz. Nimitz News recently sat down with him to discuss his goals, expectations from the crew and of course, Boston sports.

Q. Can you give a brief history of your work at previous commands?

A. From November 2007 to March 2010 I was the commanding officer of Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 11, the Red Rippers, an F/A-18F Super Hornet squadron. We did one deployment on the Truman.

From March 2010 to July 2011 I was at Joint Forces Command and was branch head for global force management. We planned out the next fiscal years’ footprint for the entire world assisting the Pentagon. Then, from July 2011 to March 2013 I did Nuclear Power Training and Ship Driving School where I learned nuclear physics, nuclear plant operations and radiation safety. Prior to all of those I was in multiple F-14 Tomcat squadrons.

Q. What sort of experiences from your previous commands do you want to bring to Nimitz?

A. I want to bring the leadership component

Story and Photo by MC3 (SW) Nathan McDonald

T

DIRECT APPROACHABLE RESOLUTE..

5

from my command tour. I want to capture the lessons I’ve learned and find ways to improve. We have 10 times the amount of people here compared to the squadron I commanded, so I want to apply that small command leadership style to a large command here.

Q. Do you have a leadership philosophy that you use to guide your decision making process?

A. Take care of our people – that defines everything, both professional and personal development. The second we stop taking care of our people we’ve failed our people and our mission.

Q. What are your goals you’d like to accomplish during your time here?

A. Accomplish the mission and improve morale. Those are the big ones. I want to make a difference in our peoples’ lives and help our people accomplish their goals, both professional and personal while simultaneously focusing on mission accomplishment. Communication is key. We have to improve our strategic vision and listen from the bottom up. That’s all levels of the chain of command, both receiving and transmitting.

I also want to improve military bearing. We’re not 7/11 and we’re not Denny’s. You signed the dotted line to do a tough job. You should look and act like you’re in the military. This isn’t a corporation masquerading as the military. Act, look and perform like it.

Q. What are some things around Nimitz you’ve seen that you take pride in?

A. We’re here supporting Operation Enduring Freedom – that’s big. I’m proud that we’re doing a better job communicating why we’re here and what we’re doing here. I’m proud to be here. My first two cruises were on this ship, and to come back is pretty ironic. I’m proud to be here and to serve in a job I love.

Q. What are some challenges you foresee for the rest of the deployment?

A. Uncertainty is a main one. Rumor control with regards to being extended and our funding because of sequestration is another. One of the biggest

challenges for a leader is managing uncertainty. We need to manage the material condition of the ship, as well. We have to fix stuff now. I want to change the culture – we’re going to take care of our ship now, not down the road at the pier.

Q. From your morning talks on the 1MC it sounds like you take cleaning stations seriously. Why is it so important to keep the ship clean?

A. We deserve to work and sleep in a space that is above the standards. We all work long days and we ought to be able to come back to a clean, cool space. We don’t want to live like we’re in a homeless shelter. We should meet or exceed the standards in everything we do.

Q. You recently met with the first class petty officers, chiefs, senior chiefs and master chiefs. What are your expectations from the leadership?

A. I have four areas that I focused on: take care of our people, take care of our ship, military bearing and then always mission accomplishment. I also stressed the importance of communication – that’s a common theme: listening and improving. There’s that age-old comment, “we’ve always done it that way.” If that way is wrong and inefficient, then let’s change it. Let’s fix it. Complain all you want. That’s what we Sailors do, but at the end of your complaint provide a solution.

Q. What are your expectations from junior enlisted?

A. Come to work on time and when you’re here, work hard. When you leave or go home act like a proud Nimitz Sailor. Set goals long term and short term, both personal and professional. Don’t wait for someone to help you achieve your goals. Go out there and do it yourself. Be hungry, and go get some food.

Q. You’re a big fan of Boston sports. What can we expect if the Bruins win the Stanley Cup?

A. Expect jubilation and increased cleaning stations. Then hopefully that winning trend will carry over to the Red Sox, or at least they’ll finish ahead of the Yankees.

6

Through the Lens

Cpl. Kristen F. Starkus places a panel on an F/A-18C.- Photo by MCSN Derek Harkins

QM3 Antoin Gray paints ship-bounded binoculars.-Photo by MCSA Kelly M. Agee

Seaman Kyoko Washington measures material to cut for a refurbishment of a foot bench in the sail loft.-Photo by MC3 Linda S. Swearingen

AM3 Esmundo Gamesvilla rebuilds a horizontal stabilizing cylinder.-Photo by MC3 Derek W. Volland

ABH2 Cephas Banini salutes as an F/A-18E Super Hornet launches.- Photo by MC2 (SW) Jacquelyn Childs

10 - FLIGHT DECK 11 - CNN

29 - DVD MOVIES30 - DVD MOVIES

Channel 7Channel 6

1000 / 2200Angels &Demons

1200 / 0000The Other

Guys

1400 / 0200

Crazy,Stupid,

Love

1600 / 0400White MenCan’t Jump

1800 / 0600Flags of

Our Fathers

0800 / 2000

MissionImpossible

Channel 5 Channel 29

ForrestGump

ToothFairy

Rememberthe

Titans

Boyz inthe Hood

NavySeals

Top Gun

LarryCrowne

FastFive

Ides ofMarch

ForColored

Girls

PatriotGames

The LastSamurai

Jack Reacher

Toy Story3

The Rock

GangsterSquad

The BlindSide

Act ofValor

02 - AFN News 03 - AFN Xtra 04 - AFN Sports 05 - 8MM Movies 06 - 8MM Movies 07 - 8MM Movies

TV

A FewGood Men

BourneUltimatum

TheRundown

BourneLegacy

BookofEli

Zero DarkThirty

Channel 30

08 - ROLLER 09 - NTV 10 - FLIGHT DECK 11 - CNN 29 - DVD MOVIES 30 - DVD MOVIES