By Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class (SW/AW) Ben Kelly
ARABIAN SEA (NNS) -- The hard work and leadership qualities
of Strike Fighter Squadron 31 (VFA 31) member Aviation Structural Mechanic
(Equipment) 1st Class Morville Cunningham have earned him the 2014 The Douglas
L. Scott Memorial Maintainer of the Year Award.
The annual award is given to one Sailor in recognition of
superior performance and support in the field of aircraft egress systems and
aircraft-mounted oxygen systems.
As VFA 31's phase coordinator, Cunningham coordinated the
maintenance actions of nine work centers to ensure scheduled, unscheduled,
special and conditional maintenance actions were performed in compliance with
all directives.
"The award is for being the best at what we do, in
regards to aviation life support," said Cunningham. "Safety for us is
a very big deal. Some of the other rates have pre-operational checklists to
make sure the work was done correctly, but for us that doesn't happen. When we
do maintenance we have to make sure the maintenance is done by the book and to
a 'T'. No steps can be missed because we are responsible for someone else's
life."
The Naval fleet maintainer awards have been established to
recognize active duty and reserve E1-E6 Navy and Marine Corps maintainers for
their outstanding work in the fields of aviation life support, oxygen, egress
and night vision systems. The recipient's performance must have significantly
impacted their command's day-to-day operations.
Nominees must be a designated aviation structural mechanic
(equipment), or aircraft safety equipment (Marine). They must have made
significant contributions to maintaining or improving aircraft readiness as it
pertains to egress and aircraft oxygen systems, ejection seats, crashworthy
systems or aircraft-mounted oxygen systems.
"Cunningham was nominated for the award, because of his
outstanding work, along with his leading petty officer abilities," said
Master Chief Aviation Maintenanceman George Beebe, VFA 31 Maintenance Master
Chief Petty Officer. "We brought him to maintenance control to work safe
for flight, and he is on his way to advancing to chief petty officer; if not
this year, then in the very near future. He is the best first class petty
officer in his job in the Navy."
The award is for Sailors who not only have a work ethic
above and beyond their responsibilities, but also demonstrate leadership
qualities that evoke superior performance of peers or subordinates.
"I've always been a hard worker and always strived to
be the best," said Cunningham. "I try to mentor the people around me
to teach them the same way that I became successful. I try to have them follow
that same path, and be a positive role model for them. I work very hard and
take my job very seriously, and I try to instill that in them."
Cunningham has been with VFA 31 since 2010, and supports the
overall mission any way that he can. One of his goals is to keep everyone
around him in the same mindset as he is, so that they can become successful.
"This award shows that my command believes in me,"
said Cunningham. "I get a lot of mentoring from my master chiefs, chiefs
and even some of the other E6s. For them to nominate me and think I'm worthy of
it is a great thing to me. It tells me that they have my back."
Cunningham said he is very proud to have his name behind
this award. It is the biggest award he has received since joining the Navy.
"This award reaffirms what we already knew," said
Cmdr. Michael Rovenolt, commanding officer, VFA 31. "We truly have truly
one of the most outstanding maintenance technicians in the entire Naval
aviation community."
VFA 31 is a squadron of Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 8 attached to
George H.W. Bush. CVW 8 and George H.W. Bush are supporting maritime security
operations and theater security cooperation efforts in the U.S. 5th Fleet area
of responsibility.
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