ComNavSurfLant

At SurfLant I worked in an office with a great guy. A Lieutenant Commander (LCDR) who gave new meaning to the term, "wordsmith". He was the Cruise Missile Czar and I managed all of the non-combat training ammuntion allowance on the east coast for the Surface Force. As opposed to the Air and Submarine Force. The Commander and I had a great working relationship and it made my first experience serving with a major staff command even better. In the process of developing Surflant policy with regards to non-combat ammunition requirements I was priveleged to chat with (sometimes butt heads with) individuals in places with acronyms spoken with some degree of awe out in the Fleet. Names like: NavSeaSysCom, ChNavMat, SPCC Mechanicsburg, NavWeps. I still get a tingle. However, with all the pressure of dealing with the Fleet and Washington, I went from two packs of Pall Mall a day, to four. It wasn't until a good friend, a Senior Chief from my Nassau period, died of lung cancer, that I was able to kick the 27 year habit.

During my SurfLant tour I became heavily involved with ultralight flying, joined the Norfolk Navy Flying Club and the Tidewater Soaring Society and got my pilots license flying sailplanes. Also purchased my first ultralight airplane, an Eagle XL. And to round out the list of sailboat, and ultralight, I added a new Honda Shadow 1100 motorcycle. I was beginning to feel like a contender for the "He Who Has the Most Toys...." contest.
I had worked from time to time with Seal Team Six on ammo acquisition issues and had advised them on certain ammo matters but I was more than intrigued when asked if I would be willing to manage their Ordnance Department contingent upon interviews conducted by members of their command. I said, "I'd be interested".

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