1. The LighthouseFebruary 26, 2009 lighthouse@navy.mil Page 15
By Lt. Charles Fatora and Lt. Jonathan Lyman
Air Test and Evaluation Squadron Three-Zero
The Bloodhounds of Air Test and Evaluation Squadron
Three-Zero (VX-30) have recently been selected to contin-
ue the S-3B Viking aircraft legacy. VX-30 will utilize the
Viking for Pt. Mugu Range Complex Clearance and par-
ticipation in Naval Sea Systems Command and Naval Air
Weapons Center - Weapons Division special projects.
The S-3B Viking was designed by Lockheed to replace
the Grumman S-2 Tracker. The S-3 became operational on
Feb. 20, 1974 with the Shamrocks of VS-41. Since its incep-
tion, the Viking mission has transformed from Anti-Subma-
rine Warfare, Anti-surface Warfare , Electronic Intelligence
and ultimately air-wing tanking support.
The S-3B Viking has had an illustrated 25-year history
including participation in Operation Iraqi Freedom, and
earning naval aviation’s only distinction as “Navy One.”
The Bloodhounds of VX-30 are proud to continue this his-
tory. Twelve aviators from VX-30 were chosen to undergo
the first phases of training at Naval Air Station Jacksonville,
FL. The Sea Control Weapons School facilitated the three-
week intensive training syllabus that included classroom
instruction, computer-based training, and multiple simula-
tor events. Throughout the course of instruction, the crews
were given ten Operational Flight Trainers simulating the
front seat of the aircraft. In addition, all crews received ten
Weapons Systems Trainers to further their knowledge of the
radar and weapons systems.
The Bloodhounds were graciously supported by the
VS-22 Checkmates based in at NAS Jacksonville. The
Checkmates held their decommissioning ceremony on Jan.
29. The Sea Control Wing held their decommissioning the
following day. The Bloodhounds have received two aircraft
to date with a third due to arrive from NASA by the end of
the month. Eventually, the squadron will have a permanent
complement of three aircraft to support the Sea Test Range.
The current configuration of the Vikings are outfitted with
Forward Looking Infrared Vision, Low Altitude Navigation
Targeting Infrared for Night and Aerial Refueling Stores.
Aviators that have completed the first phases of training
were VX-30 Commanding Officer CDR Stephen Tedford,
Chief Test Pilot CDR John “Frenchy” Rousseau, Executive
Officer CDR Stefan “X-Man” Xaudaro, CDR Mike Callah-
an, LCDR Matt “Torch” Ansley, Marine MAJ J.P. Witherell,
LCDR Brein “Nash” Croteau, LT Chris “Updog” Debons,
LT Todd “Wedge” Morgan, LT Charles “Blue” Fatora, LT
Elliott “Boom” Porter, and LT Jon “Buster” Lyman.
By Jeana Diacono
Lighthouse Staff
Air Test and Evaluation Squadron
Three-Zero (VX-30) held a Change of Com-
mand on Friday, Feb. 13. CDR Christopher
Junge was relieved by CDR Stephen Ted-
ford. The ceremony was held at VX-30’s
hanger 372, at NBVC Point Mugu.
“It was a good Change of Command.
VX-30 is changing directions and it was
evident during the ceremony,” LT Jonathan
Lyman, VX-30 ADMIN DivO/P-3 NFO
NATOPS and Training, said. “CDR Tedford
talked about how all VX-30 Bloodhounds
need to take care of each other up and down
the chain. That is the premise he’s setting.”
At the start of the ceremony, CDR Junge
spoke briefly about his era as the Skipper.
Then the guest speaker, Commanding Of-
ficer of the Command Leadership School,
CAPT John Covell, said a few words about
CDR Junge. When he was finished, CDR
Tedford took over. He talked about the
future of VX-30 and what his plan for the
squadron is.
CDR Tedford also talked about VX-
30’s new airplane, the S-3, which the Blood-
hounds recently received. Lyman says the
squadron will use the new jet primarily for
range clearance. Weapon testing and other
opportunities may arise in the future. He
says they provide range clearance on the
Sea Test Range, which can extend from San
Francisco down to the Mexican border.
VX-30 employs approximately 120 ac-
tive duty military personnel and over 100
DOD civilians and civilian contractors.
They primarily support the Sea Test Range,
the Missile Defense Agency, and sometimes
NASA. “We support weapons testing. We
primarily work out of Pt. Mugu, and at the
Pacific Missile Range Facility out of Ha-
waii,” Lyman said. “We do telemetry and
imaging of weapon shots we are associated
with. Whatever is being shot, we are usually
in on it in one way, shape or form.”
When a selected commanding officer
reports to a VX squadron, they serve a three
year tour instead of the typical two years
served in the fleet. For the first year and a
half of their tour they serve as second in
command as the Chief Test Pilot. The sec-
ond half of the tour, they take over as Skip-
per, and a new CTP is brought in. Just like
Bloodhounds employ the venerable Viking
Air Test and Evaluation Squadron Three-Zero Change of Command
Three-Zero, see page 18
Photo by Vance Vasquez
CDR Stephen Tedford says a few remarks after assuming command
of VX-30 Air Test and Evaluation Squadron.
The annual ball celebrates the 67th birthday of the Seabees.This year’s event will be held at the Ronald
Reagan Presidential Library,Simi Valley on March 14.Cocktails start at 6 p.m.with dinner at 7.Guest
speaker is Brigadier General Charles Gurganus (USMC).
Ticket prices are:
E-1 – E-4: $20 E-7 – O-2/GS9-11: $55
E-5 – E-6/GS8 & BELOW: $30 O-3 – O-4/GS12 -13: $60
O-5+/GS14 &ABOVE/GUESTS/OTHERS: $65
Tickets will be sold on a first come,first served basis.To purchase tickets please contact your command
Seabee Ball representative or CM1 Elisia Correa at 982-5212/UTC Martinez at 982-3718 by March 6.
Tickets are on sale
until March 6
for the 2009
Seabee Ball
(L to R): LT C. DeBons, CDR M. Callahan, CDR S. Xaudaro, CDR S. Tedford, CDR J. Rous-
seau, LT T. Morgan, LT C. Fatora, LT J. Lyman, and LT. E. Porter.

2. Volume 9, Number 4 lighthouse@navy.mil Thursday, February 26, 2009
A Look
Inside:
10 12 13
Scouts
helping to
preserve
America’s
history
Twenty-one
Sailors from 12
different coun-
tries become
U.S. citizens
Tuskeegee
Airmen
recount
memories of
WWII
From Navy Personnel Command
Public Affairs MILLINGTON, Tenn.
(NNS) -- The Chief of Navy Personnel
released a NAVADMIN Feb. 5 announc-
ing the requirement for all active-duty
and Reserve personnel to establish and
maintain a self-service Electronic Ser-
vice Record (ESR) account within the
next 60 days.
“Having a self-service account is
necessary for updating emergency con-
tact information. Self-service accounts
contain other important features, such
as enabling Sailors to directly submit
PCS (permanent change of station) travel
claims upon PCS transfer, update race,
ethnicity, and religion information, and
view all other ESR service record infor-
mation,” said Vice Adm. Mark Ferguson,
chief of naval personnel in NAVADMIN
043/09.
The requirement date for Sailors
serving at sea and without connectivity
to establish and ESR is 60 days upon re-
turn to homeport. The Navy first imple-
mented ESRs in 2006. The ESR provides
individual Sailors, Personnel Support
Activity Detachments (PSD), personnel
offices holding service records, Navy
Operational Support Centers, and cus-
tomer commands of PSDs, with secure
worldwide Internet access to personnel,
training, and awards data.
The ESR replaces the paper service
record as the single field level data en-
try point for service record maintenance.
Commands are required to use all avail-
able ESR functionality.
Self-service accounts can be created
at https://nsips.nmci.navy.mil or on the
Navy Standard Integrated Personnel Sys-
tem (NSIPS) ESR server on board ship.
Commanding officers, executive officers
Tracking, see page 18
All hands are invited to
attend as Naval Base Ventura
County inducts its fourth com-
manding officer during a spe-
cial ceremony at 10 a.m., Fri-
day, Feb. 27.
The NBVC Change of
Command ceremony will be
held in Hangar 34 at Pt. Mugu.
Captain James J. McHugh will
relieve Captain Brad Conners,
who is retiring from the Navy
with 27 years of service.
Dr. Richard Rush, presi-
dent, California State Uni-
versity Channel Islands is the
ceremony’s guest speaker. A
reception will be held in the
hangar immediately following
the ceremony.
Capt. McHugh was born
in Newport, RI. He is a 1986
graduate of the Pennsylvania
State University as an NROTC
student with a bachelor’s of
science degree in biology.
He holds two masters of arts
degrees, one in computer re-
sources and information sys-
tems management from Web-
ster University and a second in
national security and strategic
studies from the United States
Naval War College.
Following his commis-
sioning in May 1986, Capt.
McHugh began Naval Flight
Officer training at VT 10 in
Pensacola, Fla. After his selec-
tion to the E-2C community, he
reported onboard VAW 110 at
Naval Air Station Miramar, San
Diego, CA for E-2C Hawkeye
Replacement NFO training. He
was designated a Naval Flight
Officer in April 1988.
Upon completion of train-
ing in July 1988, he reported to
VAW 117 in San Diego. While
there he completed an around
the world deployment onboard
USS ENTERPRISE (CVN 65)
and an around the horn deploy-
ment onboard USS ABRA-
HAM LINCOLN (CVN 72).
He returned to VAW 110
in June 1991 and served as the
NFO NATOPS Officer, AIR-
PAC Evaluator and E-2C Plus
Group I and II Model Manager.
In October 1994, he was se-
lected as the Flag Lieutenant to
Commander Cruiser Destroyer
Group ONE homeported at
NAS North Island, in San Di-
ego California onboard USS
CONSTELLATION (CV 64).
During this tour he deployed
to the Western Pacific and Ara-
bian Gulf.
In August 1996, he report-
ed as a student to the Naval War
College in Newport, RI, where
he graduated in June 1997. Fol-
lowing graduation he reported
to VAW 112 in July 1997 for
his Department Head tour. He
served as Administrative Of-
ficer, Training Officer, Opera-
tions Officer and Maintenance
Officer. He deployed onboard
USS NIMITZ (CVN 68) for an-
other around the world cruise.
Following deployment the
squadron conducted a homeport
change to NBVC Point Mugu.
Additionally during this tour he
deployed onboard USS JOHN
C. STENNIS (CVN 74).
In December 1999 he re-
ported to the Joint Staff in the
Pentagon. He served as an Op-
erations Officer in the J2 di-
rectorate where he participated
in the development of policy,
preparation and execution of
combat operations in the Bal-
kans and the Middle East.
He reported to Com-
mander, Airborne Early Warn-
ing Wing, U.S. Pacific Fleet
as Chief Staff Officer in Au-
gust 2002. In October 2004 he
joined the Sun Kings of VAW
116 as Executive Officer. He
assumed command of VAW
116 in January 2006. Following
a highly successful command
tour he reported in July 2007 to
the Navy Personnel Command
as the Major Staff Placement
Officer.
Capt. McHugh has accu-
mulated over 2,800 flight hours
and over 400 carrier arrested
landings. His personal deco-
rations include the Defense
Meritorious Service Medal,
two Meritorious Service Med-
al, three Navy Commendation
Medals, a Joint Achievement
Medal, three Navy Achieve-
ment Medals and various Unit
and Service awards.
Navy revises tracking
of Sailors health
post-deployment
New base CO to take the helm
Neal McCoy in Concert April 1st Needham Theater
Captain James J. McHugh