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Show Page 8 THE OGDEN VALLEY NEWS Volume VI, Issue II May 1, 2002 Officer Woods Honored for his Duties Abroad David B. Woods, who has many ties to Ogden Valley, was recently honored in the U.S. Navy’s Naval Air Station Whidbey Island Crosswind publication. Born and raised in Ogden, Utah, Woods graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy in 1981 with a Bachelor of Science degree. Designated as a Naval Flight Officer in April 1983, he reported to VAQ-129 for fleet replacement training in the EA-6B Prowler. Upon completion of his training, he joined VAQ-131 in May 1984, completing deployments aboard USS Independence (CV-62) with CVW-6 to the Mediterranean and Indian Ocean and to the Western Pacific aboard USS Ranger (CV-61) with CVW-2. He served as Electronic Warfare Department Head for the first ICAP to ICAP II EA-6B transition and the first EA-6B fleet HARM missile firing. His next assignment took him to the Naval Military Personnel Command, Washington, D.C., where he served as Enlisted Rating Assignment Officer. In December 1990, he returned to VAQ-129 for refresher training, before reporting to VAQ-138 as Operations, Maintenance, Electronic Warfare and Safety Officers. He fulfilled two deployments to the Western Pacific and Arabian Gulf supporting both Desert Storm and Operation Southern Watch aboard USS Nimitz (CVN-68) with CVW-9. In 1993, Woods reported to VAQ129 as a Fleet Replacement Training Instructor. In September 1994, he was then assigned to Command Electronic Combat Wing, U.S. Pacific Fleet as EA-6B Readiness Officer. After receiving the National Navy League Vice Admiral John Perry Award for excellence in Electronic Officer David B. Woods Warfare in July 1995, he attended Naval War College in Newport, R.I. He graduated with a Master of Arts in National Security and Strategic Studies in March 1997, and then readily reported as Executive Officer of VAQ132 in 1997. Woods took command of VAQ-132 in August 1998 in a ceremony aboard USS Eisenhower (CVN-69) with CVW-17 in the Adriatic. Under his command, the squadron completed the Med/Arabian Gulf deployment. While under his leadership, the Scorpions won the 1998 CNAL Battle “E”, 1998 CNO Safety “S”, 1998 CNO Rear Adm. Arthur W. Radford Award and 1999 CVWP Prowler Maintenance Squadron of the Year. His most recent assignment was as Chief of Naval Operations EA-6B and Airborne Electronic Attack Secretariat, and the user Integrated Project Team lead for the study of the EA-6B follow on. His decorations include two Meritorious Service Medals, four Strike/Flight Air Medals, USAF Aerial Achievement Medal, four Navy Commendation Medals, two Navy Achievement Medals and various service and unit awards. Woods has flown over 3,000 EA6B flight hours and has more than 760 carrier arrested landings. Brother Turns Office Over to Newly Elected Brother By Shanna Francis Ogden Valley News Staff If leadership skills run in the family, the Garrison brothers have a market on it, at least at Weber High School. In a unique phenomenon at Weber High this April, Ben Garrison, turned the reins of his Student Body Vice Jon and Ben Garrison of Eden. President office over to his newly elected brother Jon Garrison in a school assembly where the newly voted in officers were announced. A year older than Jon, Ben will graduate from Weber High this spring. The brothers are the sons of Lisa and Scott Olson of Eden, and Tom and Patti Garrison of Ogden. |