Chief of Naval Air Training

Happy Holidays from our CNATRA family to yours!🎄✈️⚓️ As we gather with loved ones to celebrate, let us remember those serving the nation at home, overseas, and on the seas. Thank you for your service, and may the holiday spirit bring you comfort and joy wherever you are. We hope everyone has a safe and happy holiday season!

Season’s greetings from the Coastal Bend ☀️✈️

On this Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day, we remember the extraordinary courage of the service members and civilians who faced the surprise attack on December 7, 1941. Despite devastating losses, their valor and resilience united our nation and strengthened the Navy’s resolve to achieve victory in World War II. We remain forever inspired by their sacrifice, building on their legacy with our continued commitment to service and excellence. #NeverForget #PearlHarborRemembranceDay #NavyPride #USNavy

Big shoutout to Lt. Mike “Heimlich” Harris Jr. of the VT-35 “Stingrays” who represented Naval Air Training during the 1st Annual Los Encinos Elementary School Career Fair in Corpus Christi, TX, November 19. Heimlich discussed his path from enlisted sailor to Naval Aviator, the foundational skills that begin at a young age and the role of training squadrons and instructors in the Navy.

Big smiles and full plates. Happy Thanksgiving from everyone at Chief of Naval Air Training! Let’s continue to give thanks throughout the season for our servicemembers around the world. We hope everyone has a safe and enjoyable holiday! 🦃 #thanksgiving #flynavy

Thankful to train, mentor, and deliver the highest quality Naval Aviators who prevail in competition, crisis, and conflict. 🇺🇸 #flynavy

Mind if we share a little flyover content? 😎

Congratulations to our civilian and senior civilians of the quarter! Ms. Michelle Dix is recognized as the CNATRA senior civilian of the quarter for her dedication and outstanding work with records management. Ms. Dix cleared the pandemic backlog and facilitated the efficient retirement of records at the Federal Records Center. She was instrumental in the process of enhancing records retrieval capabilities by training two personnel in two software programs and maximizing work-center utilization and productivity to input nearly 1,500 student entries into the Electronic Aviation Training Jacket program. Ms. Jennifer Jackson is the CNATRA civilian of the quarter for her demonstrating outstanding financial leadership. Ms. Jackson was recognized for her diligent tracking and reconciliation of fund which led to reinforced financial integrity and transparency throughout the organization leading to support the CNATRA mission. Mr. Rodel Henry is the CNATRA senior civilian of the quarter for detachments in Pensacola, Florida. Mr. Henry is recognized for his crucial role in assisting the Boston Consulting Group by providing Optimized Organizational Maintenance Activity (OOMA) historical maintenance discrepancy data from January 2020 to August 2024. He constantly displays expert knowledge of the Performance Work Statement (PWS) and the T-6A platform. Mr. Zachary Gaines is the CNATRA civilian of the quarter for detachments in Meridian, Mississippi. Mr. Gaines is commended for his work during a Navy Marine Corps Intranet (NMCI) technical refresh where Gaines expertly managed the process to minimize disruption to Training Air Wing ONE allowing for continued Student Naval Aviator production. We are proud of the tireless dedication and work of all who support CNATRA’s mission! Bravo Zulu!

Meet the Marlin II! The Navy’s newest training aircraft has officially been dubbed the “T-54A Marlin II.” Scheduled to be in service through 2055, the T-54A first arrived at Naval Air Station Corpus Christi in April 2024, and the Chief of Naval Air Training completed the T-54A Safe-For-Flight certification in June 2024. The T-54A has since reached 1,000 flight hours while providing advanced instrument and asymmetric engine handling training to student naval aviators selected for multi-engine fleet communities within the Navy, Marine Corps, Coast Guard and select U.S. allies.

An inside look at the new T-54! CNATRA instructors getting after it on a proficiency flight to Fort Stockton, TX.