2000

 

LT McHugh
LT Digel "Barely"

LT Paffenroth

 

LT Erika Digel

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I am a 2000 grad who spent four years in Navy ROTC at VT.  I am currently an NFO, specifically an ECMO (Electronic Counter Measures Officer) flying EA-6B Prowlers out of Naval Air Station Whidbey Island, WA.  I am currently in VAQ-137, the Rooks, until I transfer to a shore tour next January.  I joined the Rooks just before workups, and did an entire work-up cycle and deployment with CVW-1 and USS ENTERPRISE (CVN 65).  We were in the Gulf, and also sent a Prowler detachment to Bagram AFB, Afghanistan for almost a month in December 2003.  I spent Christmas and New Year's in Afghanistan that year, which was quite an experience.  Otherwise, we are getting ready to start work-ups again and are the second squadron to transition to the newest Prowler version, the ICAP III.  Same basic jet, whole new avionics; it's the precursor to the EF-18 Growler.  If you have any midshipmen interested in Prowlers (although the Prowler will probably be gone by the time they get here) I would be glad to answer a few questions if they have them.

LT Steve Shauberger (VT 99) was also in my squadron and just transferred to VAQ-129.  LT Kevin McHugh (VT 2000) is also out here, I think in VAQ-139.  How small the world is in the Navy!



LT Kevin McHugh
,
Prowler ECMO with VAQ-139, now in my 3rd year with the squadron.  I graduated from VT in 2000 and am currently stationed at NAS Whidbey Island, Washington
 

LT Jim Paffenroth, Fire Control Officer on USS Nitze, DDG 94.