RADM Mathew Klunder

​Rear Admiral Klunder has been a strong leader and ardent supporter of the Hawkeye
and Greyhound community during his distinguished thirty-two year naval career. He
made unprecedented and significant contributions to the operational capabilities of the E-2 and enhanced its relevance in naval aviation and the modern carrier strike group. His accomplishments are numerous, significantly impacting the community and Navy. They include:
As a junior officer his career began in VAW 112 where he made two deployments to
the western Pacific and Indian Ocean. His skill as a pilot earned him numerous “Top
Hook” awards in the air wing. From VAW 112 he was selected to return to VAW 110
as a pilot instructor, the pilot NATOPS Officer and the COMNAVAIRPAC Evaluator.
His superb performance as a Fleet Replacement Squadron instructor earned him the
1988 “Hawkeye of the Year” award in a time when there were only two such awards,
one east coast and one west coast, given each year. In recognition of his skills as a pilot and his academic achievement Rear Admiral Klunder was selected to attend The U.S. Naval Test Pilot School. After completion of TPS he reported to Force Warfare Test Directorate as an E-2/C-2 test pilot. While in that billet he tested and certified the T-56-427 engine including certifying the heavy gross weight aircraft for carrier operations with high risk parameters and single engine operations in high risk parameters. He set 21 world flying records for turboprop aircraft, most of which still stand today. He also found time to complete a Master Degree in Aerodynamics and Aviation Systems. In recognition of his performance as a  test pilot he was selected as the 1991 “Test Pilot of the Year.” 
Following his department head tour with VAW 115, Rear Admiral Klunder served on
the Joint Staff and in the National Military Command Center as Senior Operations
Officer and SIOP Officer during Operations JOINT ENDEAVOR, DESERT STRIKE
and the O’Grady rescue.
Selected for squadron command, Rear Admiral Klunder was the executive office and
commanding officer of VAW 115. During his time in command the squadron received
the Battle E, the AEW Excellence Award and the Golden Anchor Award. Following
command and after earning a second master degree at the National War College he
again reported to the Joint Staff as its liaison officer to the State Department. It was
during this tour he received the 2002 “George C. Marshall Statesman Award.”
As a result of his exceptional performance in squadron command Rear Admiral
Klunder was selected for major command as commander of Carrier Air Wing FIVE
where he led his air wing on two deployments. Following his CAG tour and time on
the OPNAV Staff in N3/5 he was selected to be the 83 rd Commandant of Midshipman at the U.S. Naval Academy. Following his selection to flag rank, Rear Admiral Klunder became the Chief of Naval Research at the Office of Naval Research. In that capacity he championed the incorporation of enhanced radar side lobe cancellation, radar antenna improvements, Hawkeye NIFCA-CA and CEC enhancements in high speed processing and resilient wave form development. He was also involved in ONR programs for the E-2 cockpit redesign and the initial work on future carrier landing assist algorithms. Rear Admiral Klunder’s highly distinguished career had a great impact on the VAW/VRC Community, naval aviation and the Navy. His leadership inside and outside our Community set the example for future Community officers to strive for and demonstrated that Hawkeye/Greyhound leaders are among the best in the Navy. His hands-on mentorship of Community officers while he was in and out of uniform and the example he has set have made an invaluable impact on the skills and aspirations of our current and future leaders.
His dedicated service and many outstanding contributions warrant his selection to the VAW VRC Hall of Honor

Mr. Thomas Whitehead
While he never wore a uniform as an active duty member of the Hawkeye/Greyhound
Community, Thomas “Tom” Whitehead has served our Community every day of the
last 50 years in one role or another. Leaving the Navy in 1973 after serving as an
enlisted sailor in the Surface Warfare Community, Tom went to work for Grumman
Aerospace as an avionics technician in the E-2C Radar Development Program. He was an integral member of the team of technicians that took the aircraft numbers 1, 2 and 3 of the new model of the Hawkeye through its successful Board of Inspection and Survey (BIS) trials. He went on to be a member of the Tiger Team that “groomed” the 4 new E-2Cs that would go on its first deployment with the VAW 123 Screwtops on USS Saratoga. Tom would remain with the team to prepare other E-2C squadrons for their first deployments. 
Tom was a “Jack of all trades” as a member of the Grumman Hawkeye Program. He
spent time in the Anechoic Chamber at the Grumman facility in Calverton, New York,
conducting source/victim electromagnetic Interference testing on the Hawkeye. He
traveled the globe with the Hawkeye Foreign Military Sales (FMS) Team, primarily
providing engineering support to the test and evaluation squadron and PMA 231 at
Patuxent River and the in-country integration teams in the customer nations. When not supporting the FMS teams, Tom supporting Fleet Integration Teams for subsequent upgrades to the Hawkeye, doing on-call radar troubleshooting in the squadrons and training Grumman Technical Representatives who supported all Fleet squadrons at home and on deployment. When there was a problem with a Hawkeye avionics system that could not be fixed or when avionics expertise or training was needed Tom was the person they called. In 1992 Tom relocated to San Diego where he supported the Naval Aviation Depot (NADEP) as part of the E-2/C-2 Engineering Group. In this capacity he was a prime mover in the drafting of the avionics operational performance specification for the E-2C Scheduled Depot Level Maintenance (SDLM) and later evolved that document to support the new Phased Depot Maintenance concept for the Hawkeye and Greyhound aircraft. In recognition of his extensive experience and expertise in the Hawkeye, Tom moved north from NAS North Island, and NADEP, to NAS Miramar where he became Grumman Projects Manager supporting six E-2C squadrons as the manager of all Technical Representatives and the direct liaison between Grumman, later Northrop Grumman, and the Fleet. When the west coast Hawkeye Community moved from Miramar to Point Mugu, his management of the Northrop Grumman support and his close coordination with the VAW/VRC Wing and all Hawkeye squadrons contributed
greatly to the execution of the move without any reduction in operational readiness.
After four years of supporting the Hawkeyes in Point Mugu, Tom returned to NAS
North Island as the Northrop Grumman Technical Services Sector west coast division
manager. In this position he, along with his team of engineers and technicians, worked hand in hand with the Naval Aviation Depot to ensure the best possible depot level maintenance on all Northrop Grumman products, especially the Hawkeye and
Greyhound. After retiring in 2012 Tom’s support of the VAW/VRC Community did not end, it merely changed directions. It was about this time that the museum ship USS Midway was looking to develop the ready room spaces on board as additional parts of the ship tour. Tom was a member of small cadre of former Hawkeye/Greyhound officers who came together to rehab one of the spaces as the Hawkeye/Greyhound ready room, Ready Room 4. The superb way that Ready Room 4 exhibits the legacy of our great Community stands as proof of the hard work and dedication of Tom and the other members of this group of Community alumni. Tom was the group engineer and
supervised all of the rehab effort dedicating thousands of hours to the project. Even
after the completion of Ready Room 4 Tom has been the primary person responsible
for the maintenance and updating of the ready room. He has also supported the efforts to create the VAW 115 Avionics Shop and Air Transfer Office (ATO) displays on
Midway. The group that made Ready Room 4 a reality went on to become the genesis of what is now the VAW/VRC Foundation. Tom has been a member of the board of directors since its inception and dedicates countless hours to supporting Foundation activities and its events on Midway and at the annual Tailhook Association Convention. Tom Whitehead is neither a retired senior naval officer nor a former leader of industry, but he has had a remarkable and invaluable impact in making our Community as great as it is today. His impact comes from his total dedication and his willingness to work down in the trenches and get things done. Additionally, he is universally liked and appreciated for his forward leaning, innovative and proactive approach to every task and his engaging, congenial manner. Tom Whitehead’s contributions to the VAW/VRC Community over the past 50 years – and counting – more than justify, they demand, his selection to the Hawkeye Greyhound Hall of Honor.

CAPT Terry Magee
Capt. Terry Magee has been leader and ardent supporter of the Hawkeye and Greyhound community for over 50 years. His accomplishments are numerous and significantly impacted the community and Navy:

• Executive and Commanding Officer of VAW-112, leading the squadron to the Battle E and CNO Safety Award with an unprecedented operational readiness rate. 
• Amassed over 6000 flight hours and 1000 landings supporting fleet operations around the globe.  
• He was recognized for his harrowing efforts in a near fatal aircraft incident during a routine training mission. Because of faulty maintenance, the instrument panel dislodged on climb-out jamming the yoke against the student pilot. Reacting quickly, Capt Magee took over command, assessed the situation, coordinated with the student pilot to free the yoke and recovered the stalling aircraft.
• Commanding Officer of VAW-110, the E-2 and C-2 replacement squadron, leading 150 officers and 700 enlisted in training for manning the 12 Air Wing and 12 carriers.  
• Commanding Officer of the Amphibious Ship Duluth (LPD-6) which had a crew of 800 and carried a complement of 1100 Marines. 
• Commanding Officer of the Aircraft Carrier the USS Kitty Hawk (CV-63) with a crew of ~ 5,000. Successfully guided ship and crew through numerous Fleet Refresher Training periods and several diplomatic port visits. 
• Plank owner and a Director of the USS Midway Museum, he has been instrumental in the most successful ship Museum in the United States, ranked in many publications and the top ship tourist attractions in the United States. 
• Instrumental in the establishment of Ready Room 4, the VAW VRC ready room, onboard the USS Midway. 
• Captain Magee was the past President of the VAW VRC Foundation and currently is the Chairman of Board. He was instrumental in the launch of the VAW VRC Foundation, combining the efforts of a VAW reunion organization with the Ready Room 4 organization. In his leadership positions, he was critical in expanding the scope of the Foundations efforts. 
• Terry Magee has served for seven years as a member of the Support The Enlisted Project (STEP) board, accruing over 200 volunteer hours annually. STEP ‘s mission focuses on helping service members and change their lives by providing counseling, financial education and, when necessary, grants to creditors in order to set them on a financial self-sufficiency.  
• As a member of the Board of Directors for the San Diego Military Advisory Council (SDMAC), Terry Magee helped to support and promote the mutual business and other interests of the military, their quality of life, and the defense community in the San Diego area.

Captain Magee’s complete and tireless dedication to the VAW VRC community and Navy in and out of uniform is truly deserving the recognition by selection the VAW VRC Hall of Fame.

CAPT James Clifton 
Captain James Clifton has been a dedicated Hawkeye Community officer for his entire Navy career and made many significant contributions to its success.
Capt. Clifton graduated from United States Naval Academy in 1982 and then attended Naval Flight Officer training in Pensacola, FL and later received his Wings of Gold from the E-2 Hawkeye training squadron. After completing several E-2C squadron deployments, he applied for and was accepted to the U.S. Naval Test Pilot School (TPS), Patuxent River, MD. Following completion of training, Capt. Clifton was assigned to the E-2 testing at VX-20 where he was instrumental in testing the Group II upgrades to the E-2C weapons system.
After a successful TPS tour, Capt. Clifton attended the Naval Postgraduate School, Monterey, CA and  received a PHD in Aeronautical Engineering. His next assignment was to PMA-231 as the E-2/C-2 Class Desk during a time of immense change in the E-2 Program. As Class Desk, CAPT Clifton was responsible for engineering development and the management of numerous upgrades to the E-2 aircraft. Among them were:

• Upgrade of E-2C AN/APS-138/139 to AN/APS-145 Weapon Systems
• Development of the Navigation Upgrade to incorporate dual GPS to replace the INS/HARS/ADC system 
• Development of the MCU/ACIS to replace the existing L304 computer and display systems
• Development and incorporation of the Cooperative Engagement Capability (CEC) to enable the E-2C to become a critical member of the Fire Control capability. 
• Development of the T-56-427A engine to give the E-2 more horse power for take-off and extend its time on station 
• Development and incorporation of the inflight refueling capability to extend the E-2 range and time on station as well as improve its safety and flexibility during carrier recovery operations. 
• Developed, tested and implemented the glass cockpit that enabled all crew members and in particular the pilot and co-pilot to become fully integrated members of all operational mission areas. This capability has been critical in significantly improving capabilities of the E-2D.

All the above listed improvements which CAPT Clifton oversaw were the necessary capabilities and functions for the E-2 to enable the program to incorporate the next generation radar and weapon system to maintain its superiority over developing adversary capabilities. The heart of the E-2 development efforts were the:

• ADS-18 Antenna which replaced the 8 channel rotary coupler with an 18 channel rotary coupler in the same volume. Considered by many to be the “Ninth Wonder of the World” due to its engineering, structural and technical complexity. 
• The Radar Modernization Program (RMP) which replaced the AN/APS-145 Radar with a radar that was two orders of magnitude more powerful to provide significantly more target detection and range capability.
  • To accomplish the above, CAPT Clifton oversaw the development and testing of the prototype equipment at the PMRF Mountain Top Facility in Kauai, Hawaii, over several years until approved for incorporation into an airborne capability in a C-130.
  • After receiving approval through testing, the capability was developed for incorporation into the E-2 aircraft.

The overall incorporation of the above development efforts resulted in the E-2D Weapon System which is now the backbone of the E-2 community today and will only increase its relevance into the future. Without the tenacity, knowledge and engineering acumen of CAPT Clifton there would be no E-2D Advanced Hawkeye in the Fleet today and the Hawkeye would be fading away rather than becoming the focal point of US Navy carrier strike group operations. CAPT James Clifton’s critical and invaluable contributions to the Hawkeye Community at a pivotal time in its history and the results of these contributions we enjoy today demand the recognition of a place in the Hawkeye/Greyhound Hall of Honor. 

Mr. Robert Knox
In recognition of his untiring efforts during a career at Lockheed Martin to ensure the warfighter received the highest quality equipment and support required to Fly, Fight and Win. From Production Shop Manager at the Lockheed Martin Syracuse Facility, manufacturing and repairing E-2C APS-145 Radar to the critical role of leading the transition to the full rate production of the E-2D APY-9 radar, his performance was truly remarkable. Of note was his skillful management of moving from APY-9 System Development and Demonstration (SDD) to Low Rate lnitial Production (LRIP) and then to a ramp-up to eight systems per year. This effort required clear direction and perseverance in tackling supplier issues, environmental qualification and reliability development testing, system design qualification testing, flight test support while establishing state-of-the-art manufacturing facilities. His attention to detail in planning, schedule development, and material lines of balance provided visibility that drove his team to meet milestones for material receipt and target times for assembly and test. He proactively managed items on the schedule critical paths ensuring LM's building, integrating, testing and delivering the first fifty-four APY-9 Radars to the fleet on time and set the foundation for future production and system improvements. The VAWVRC Foundation and the entire VAW/VRC Community recognizes his dedication to excellence and for "going above and beyond" to ensure the Hawkeye has always had the best radar systems possible. Your career at Lockheed Martin has more than earned you a place in the prestigious VAWVRC Hall of Honor. 

CAPT William Liebe
​Captain Liebe commanded VAW-123 and was the Wing Commander for over three years (1989-1992), including during Desert Storm.
He was on the leading edge of “second generation pioneers,” clearly envisioning the Hawkeye’s potential to become the “Centerpiece of the Battlegroup”.  He led at a critical juncture when development of the Group II aircraft was in doubt.  While others fought the battle inside the Beltway, Commodore Liebe was instrumental in influencing Fleet leadership to acknowledge the E-2’s critical role while urging them to demand further system improvement.  He specifically focused his squadrons on working collaboratively with the burgeoning AEGIS community to produce a single coherent battle management picture.  This paid long-term dividends as battle group commanders became strong advocates for the community.
                Commodore Liebe focused staff efforts on combat readiness.  This was most évident when VAW-126 flew aboard JFK with FIVE FMC aircraft en route to Operation Desert Storm. Similarly equipped, VAW-123 and VAW-125 followed close behind. Throughout Desert Shield/Storm, he went to extraordinary lengths to ensure 100% FMC squadrons at the tip of the spear. 
Following VAW-126’s loss of AG-602 and five crewmembers in July 1992, Commodore Liebe identified the best replacement aircraft on the waterfront, as well as replacement aircrew.  Thanks to his efforts, the Seahawks reported Full Combat Readiness when they deployed less than six weeks later. When the investigation identified Kapton wiring as the cause of the accident, he directed wing-wide inspections which helped NAVAIR identify the scope of the problem. He then provided the guidance/assets required to assist Grumman in re-wiring the entire east coast fleet of aircraft — an enormous balancing act, matching repaired aircraft with squadrons as operations demanded.
Among the many other hurdles encountered as wing commander, Commodore Liebe managed the difficult task of replacing exhausted outer wing panels, without degrading squadron readiness or aircrew proficiency.  He also directed Counter-Drug Operations, while adhering to PERSTEMPO requirements.  He even managed to save VAW122 from imminent decommissioning, when to do so would have meant the end of any reasonable expectation of PERSTEMPO compliance, or the creation of gaps in counter-drug surveillance. 
 
Captain Liebe’s dedication to the Community, innovative vision regarding the E-2’s future capabilities, and extraordinary leadership, laid the groundwork for our current successes and helped ensure our key position in today’s battlegroup.

CAPT Peter Shepard
Captain Shepard made significant contributions to the Hawkeye community both as a Naval Officer and as a civilian contractor from 1967 to 2013. These contributions make him especially worthy for inclusion in the Hawkeye/Greyhound Hall of Honor.
 
E-2B/C Aircrew: CAPT Shepard was quickly recognized as a superb E-2 Naval Flight Officer and Naval Officer. As a result of his performance, he was selected as an E-2 Test and Evaluation Officer in Patuxent River, MD. 
 
E-2C Test Crew: Instrumental in development and testing of E-2C/APS-125 weapon systems.  As project lead for the upgrade of the E-2C/APS-125, CAPT Shepard provided his leadership and guidance in development and testing of a significant improvement to E-2C radar. His contribution resulted in the smooth transition to the Fleet of this Advanced Radar Processing System (ARPS), implementing digital system processing which significantly improved sub-clutter visibility enabling enhanced performance against first, second and third generation fighters in overwater, overland, and near land environments. It also enabled automatic detection and tracking of generation four fighters in these same environments, while increasing the number of simultaneous tracks the system could handle. Components of this system reside today in the APY-9 radar.
 
Executive and Commanding Officer, VAW-116: For inspirational leadership to a squadron of 200+ officer and enlisted. CAPT Shepard with his extensive operational and acquisition background created a squadron of focused and dedicated professional warriors.
 
E-2 Program Manager: Group II introduction: CAPT Shepard was at the forefront of development and Operational Evaluation of the Group II E-2C. This E-2C advancement was critical in maintaining the Hawkeye’s relevance.
 
Hawkeye 2000: CAPT Shepard crafted the Hawkeye 2000 program from various system upgrades to include Co-operative Engagement Capability (CEC), Navigation upgrade and the Mission Computer Upgrade funded by CNO N-7. His leadership in marshalling support from the CNO N-86 Surface Warfare community resulted in a breakthrough in coalescing components of an integrated war fighting network.  This set the stage for the Advanced Hawkeye and NIFC-CA.
 
 
In a 1993 decision briefing to the Secretary of the Navy, he presented two alternates for Navy AEW mission continuity, continue E-2 production with upgrades or field a replacement aircraft in 2024. His persuasive presentation ensured the E-2 Hawkeye would remain a funded and relevant weapon system, serving as an information integration and weapon delivery aircraft central to defending the fleet from air and missile attacks.
 
His partnership with Navy International Programs Office opened new E-2 sales to the governments of Taiwan, France and Egypt while supporting maintenance contracts with Singapore, Taiwan, Japan and France. These new international contracts enabled opening a new lower cost E-2 production facility in St Augustine Florida.
 
E-2D Advanced Hawkeye/APY-9: CAPT Shepard is the father of the Advanced Hawkeye. A visionary, he immediately understood technology emerging from a project sponsored by Captain Rod Rempt, CNO N-72, Anti-air Warfare, to enable radar capability providing unprecedented detection of small cruise missile targets at significant ranges regardless of jamming, clutter and interference. His efforts resulted in demonstrating a radar with Space-Time-Adaptive-Processing (STAP) in a mountaintop experiment and then laid out the program for integrating the radar system into to C-130 aircraft for further demonstration and refinement. This technology became a keystone in the Naval Integrated Fire Control – Counter Air (NIFC-CA) implementation which is now central to Navy’s network centric warfare operations.  Because of the superb capability of this radar, developed under Captain Shepard’s stewardship as PMA and as an engineering contractor, the Advanced Hawkeye is of paramount importance to the U.S. Navy and remains fully funded, with a robust future capabilities up-grade program.  VAW-124 far east forward home porting, “closer to the fight”, is strongly indicative of his superb program management and contractor contributions to E-2D successful Naval Integrated Fire-Control-Counter Air deployments.
 
Captain Pete Shepard’s superb performance as a E-2 operator and as the E-2 program manager is most strongly warrant his entry into the Hall of Honor.
 
 
Endorsement:
Captain Mike Maurer: While serving as N-753 under then Captain Rod Rempt (N-75 Anti-Air Warfare requirements), I facilitated interaction between Captain Rempt and Captain Shepard on the central issue of which computer would integrate track data from multiple sources, Captain Shepard strongly convinced Captain Rempt that integration must occur within E-2 computing systems, nor within the CEC onboard computer. His skillful negotiation succeeded in not giving up control of E-2 computing systems to a NAVSEA program office. As an AEW wing commander in 1997, I visited the mountaintop tests to observe radar developmental testing.  The early results were astounding! Transforming a proof of concept system into a highly successful state of the art radar aircraft resulted from Captain Shepard’s critical contributions to the VAW VRC community. He set the highest standards for all future VAW VRC community members to emulate. The AEW community must show our appreciation with his introduction into the Hall of Honor.
​

Mr. Walter Wagner (NAVAIR)

Walt Wagner spent 15 years on active duty with the Navy before joining the E-2 program office.  He entered the Navy in June 1950 right out of high school, and served as an enlisted man in fighter squadrons and Ship’s Company on several aircraft carrier flight decks.  The Navy sent him to Purdue in 1956 after having been accepted into the Naval Enlisted Scientific Engineering Program.  He graduated with an electrical engineering degree in June, 1962.  After attending specialized courses at Pensacola, he was commissioned an Ensign in October, 1962, and reported to VAH-11 in September, 1962.  Then, after graduating from Naval Flight Officer’s School in Pensacola, Florida in September, 1964, he reported to VAW-11 in San Diego, California, where he became a Combat Information Center Officer (CICO) and a CICO flight instructor in the E-2A.
 
He was medically retired in June 1966, and was employed as an engineer by the E-2 Development Program at the Naval Air Development Center in Warminster, Pennsylvania in July of that year.  In July 1968 he moved to the Naval Air Systems Command (NAVAIR) in Washington, DC, where he worked as an E-2 development engineer until being promoted to the E-2/C-2 program office as Deputy Program Manager in June 1972. 
Walt was the first civilian to become a Major Program Manager at NAVAIR when he relieved Captain John E. (Jack) Hoch as PMA-231 in July 1982.  He left the E-2 program in July 1983 to accept an appointment to the Senior Executive Service as Assistant Deputy Commander for Strike Warfare and Assault Programs, later serving as the Director of Weapons Programs at NAVAIR.
During the 11 year tenure as E-2/C-2 Deputy and Program Manager, the program office and the supporting matrix team had many trying and rewarding experiences.  In that period the team successfully transitioned the fleet from the E-2B to the E-2C, meeting all cost and performance goals. The Advanced Radar Processing System was introduced to the fleet and started the new, more capable, E-2 Trac-A radar antenna development program. The first multiyear contract for the re-procurement of the C-2A was awarded.  The Foreign Military Sales program had both Israeli and Japanese participation and the Egyptian and Singaporean programs were in their infancy.  There were others to come, but each of these major efforts were successful only because of the exceptional technical and management skills of the Naval Air Systems Command E-2 team led by Walt Wagner.
Noteworthy Awards:
                  Vice Pres Gore’s Heroes of Reinvention Hammer Award    October, 1996
                  Navy Distinguished Civilian Service Award                            March, 1990
                  Navy Superior Civilian Service Award                                      June, 1982

​VADM Shelanski retired having achieved the highest rank of anyone in history from the Hawkeye Greyhound Community. Throughout his distinguished career he continually bettered the community and his success in his career helped the community ascend to new levels of respect, prestige and importance for the warfighting capability of the United States military. This resulted in Community personnel ascending to billets and ranks here to fore considered unattainable and the platform gaining enhanced capabilities and increased responsibilities in Naval Warfare.
    VADM Shelanski excelled at every level during his career demonstrating his immense talents and potential.  As a Lt. he was selected as Hawkeye of the Year in 1985. As Commanding Officer of the “Bluetails” of VAW 121he lead the Command to win the coveted Battle “E”, the AEW Excellence Award and the CNO Safety Award.  Due to his exceptional performance and academic background he was selected to the nuclear power program and was the first Executive Officer of the USS Ronald Regan(CVN 76) and the Commanding Officer of the USS Harry S. Truman(CVN 75) where his leadership resulted in the Truman winning the Battle “E”, the CNO Safety Award and the Secretary of Defense  Large Category  Maintenance Award. Again, due to his performance he was selected to Flag Rank and to Command Carrier Strike Group 10-the first person ever from the Hawkeye Greyhound Community to Command a Carrier Strike Group.
    Throughout his career VADM Shelanski broke barriers and set precedence for the Community and those that would follow him opening avenues for positions and accompanying promotions that here to fore had been unavailable to the community. VADM Shelanski represented the Community on several Aviation Command Boards and Aviation Major Command Boards.  His accomplishments, his credibility and his exceptional reputation throughout Naval Aviation allowed him to support Community members for Initial Command and for Major Command billets at sea as Air Wing Commanders and Carrier Commanding Officers and Ashore as base Commanding Officers or Wing Commanders. Deserving Community personnel at previously unprecedented numbers ascended into Major Command Billets at Sea and Ashore positioning them for selection to Flag Rank and positions of leadership in the Navy.
    In addition to promoting and supporting the community while in Command billets at sea VADM Shelanski supported and promoted the community in key ashore billets such as Senior Military Advisor to the Assistant Secretary of Defense and Deputy Chief of Naval Operations for assessments.  VADM Shelanski’ s reputation, performance and operational acumen reemphasized the value of the Hawkeye Greyhound Community and the platform they operated to the warfare capability of the military.  This resulted in enhanced capabilities and responsibilities for the community and its platform and increased funding to bring those capabilities to the Fleet.  In leading the 2014 Defense Quadrennial Review and in leading 2 elite research teams which evaluated emerging technological threats and how to counter them his credibility, his reputation, his vision and his unique ability to form and convey strategies placed the community and its platform in key positions in US Military warfare in the present and well into the future.
    Throughout his distinguished career VADM Shelanski never forgot or neglected his roots.  He was always available to the Community as a mentor, a role model and advisor. He always responded to requests for assistance whenever asked whether it was an individual seeking career advice or to the Community leadership seeking advise as they faced challenges in operations, funding or logistics.
    VADM Shelanski’ s humility, his strongest character trait of truly caring for people, his leadership style and his proven performance made him approachable and admired and respected by not only the Hawkeye Greyhound community but throughout the Navy, the Military and the Department of Defense which significantly benefitted the Hawkeye Greyhound community.  VADM Shelanski served as an inspiration for the community and paved the way and gave hope to Community personnel as they pursued their careers.
    For his many contributions to the Hawkeye Greyhound Community in the areas of personnel upward mobility and in enhancing the communities’ platform with increased capabilities, responsibilities and priority in funding to achieve these capabilities it is entirely fitting that VADM Shelanski be selected for the Hawkeye Greyhound Hall of Honor. Throughout his career VADM Shelanski has been a community pioneer and leader and has contributed significantly to the Community’s success.