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ANA Wing Commanders and Commanding
Officers,
It is our very distinct pleasure to
introduce the Director of Air Warfare (N88) – THE Naval
Aviation person on the OPNAV staff - RADM David L. “Deke”
Philman, USN. His bio is that of a Warrior as you will see
immediately below.
RADM Philman has penned a special
message to ANA, that included in the text below and in the
attachment.
Our most special thanks to RADM
Philman for his tremendous insight!
Educate, educate!!
VR,
Dutch Rauch
Secretary/Treasurer
1446 Waggaman Circle
Mclean, VA 22101
PS - I am most pleased to note RADM
Philman is a former TWII AFI and ROYAL MACE
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Rear Admiral David L. "Deke" Philman
Director, Air Warfare (OPNAV N88)
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 Rear
Admiral David L. “Deke” Philman is the director,
Air Warfare Division (OPNAV N88) on the staff of
the Deputy Chief of Naval Operations for
Integration of Capabilities and Resources (OPNAV
N8). A native of Bell, Fla., he graduated from the
U.S. Naval Academy with a Bachelor of Science
degree in Operations Analysis in June 1978. He has
also attended the U.S. Air War College and the Navy
Executive Business School.
Philman has completed ten major deployments at sea
aboard USS Constellation (CV-64), USS
Kitty Hawk (CV-63), USS Enterprise
(CVN-65), USS Independence (CV-62), USS
Carl Vinson (CVN-70) and USS Harry S. Truman
(CVN-75). His initial sea tours were as an A-7E
pilot in VA-146 and VA-27. In 1990 he transitioned
to the F/A-18 Hornet during his tour with
VA/VFA-27. Philman commanded the F/A-18C squadron
VFA-151 (Vigilantes) from February 1996 to May 1997
aboard USS Constellation. Philman commanded
Carrier Air Wing 3 aboard USS Harry S.
Truman from July 2001 to January 2003. From
July 2000 to June 2001, he served as the deputy air
wing commander.
Philman’s shore tours include advanced strike
flight instructor at Naval Air Station Kingsville,
Texas; aide to the Deputy Commander, U.S. Space
Command, Colorado Springs, Colo.; executive
assistant to the Director, Navy International
Programs Office, Washington; head, Strike Aircraft
Plans and Requirements (OPNAV Staff), Washington,
and director, Navy Congressional Appropriations
Liaison, Washington.
Philman’s first flag officer assignment was as
deputy commander, JFCC Global Strike and
Integration, U.S. Strategic Command, Offutt Air
Force Base, Neb., from September 2005 to September
2007. His most recent flag officer assignment was
as commander, Strike Force Training Pacific, San
Diego, from September 2007 to February 2009.
Philman has logged more than 4,500 flight hours in
tactical jet aircraft and has completed more than
1000 carrier arrested landings on 11 different
aircraft carriers. He is entitled to wear the
Defense Superior Service Medal, Legion of Merit
(four awards), Defense Meritorious Service Medal,
Meritorious Service Medal (two awards),
Strike/Flight Air Medal (two awards), Navy
Commendation Medal (three awards) and the Navy
Achievement Medal.
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Updated: 23 February 2009 |
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HOWGOZIT by Rear Admiral David “Deke” Philman, Director,
Air Warfare (OPNAV N88)
Hello
and welcome to the first of what will be a series of
regular communications from myself and YOUR OPNAV/N88 Naval
Aviation team! Let me begin by thanking ANA for allowing me
to address the membership through this column. It is great
to be here and I am honored and privileged to serve Naval
Aviation in my capacity as the Director, Air Warfare. I
intend to use this column in the coming months to inform
and share with you our plans for the future of Naval
Aviation as we deal with the challenges posed by a budget
constrained environment, while concurrently contributing
heavily to our ongoing operations in Iraq and Afghanistan.
First, let me extend my since
thanks and appreciation to my two predecessors, RADM “Mad
Al” Myers and RADM “Pink” Floyd for their outstanding
leadership in guiding Naval Aviation for the past two years
here in DC. Both Mad Al and Pink are longtime friends and I
am honored to follow in them in this important work, and
appreciate the good organization they have turned over to
me.
Before
I talk about what’s going on here in the Pentagon, let’s
take a quick look at what YOUR Naval Aviation force is up
to. We continue to be fully engaged in both Operations
Iraqi Freedom and Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan. USS
Theodore Roosevelt/CVW-8 just returned from a
successful deployment where they were fully tasked in
support of ground forces throughout the region. They were
relieved by USS Dwight D. Eisenhower/CVW-7 who are
now on point in Middle East operations. At the same time
in WESTPAC, USS John C. Stennis/CVW-9 were
participating in several joint exercises with our allies in
the Pacific as well as conducting several successful
diplomatic port visits to Korea, Thailand, Singapore and
Japan. They are now underway for Alaska to participate in
Exercise Northern Edge 2009.
In the maritime patrol community, YOUR Naval
Aviation force currently has 24 P-3s forward deployed
around the globe, providing essential maritime domain
awareness and time-critical ISR to every Combatant
Commander. A P-3 arrived FIRST on scene to provide
real-time surveillance and remained on station for the
duration of the Maersk Alabama piracy incident. One
aircraft and two aircrews detached to Brazil within hours
of the Air France tragedy and provided over 32 hours in
support of search and recovery efforts. YOUR rotary wing
force is also hard at work, forward deployed in all
theaters both ashore and afloat on carriers and surface
ships…lotsa pirate patrol opportunities for our helo
communties!
Back here in the Pentagon, YOUR N88
Naval Aviation team is fully engaged in the POM-10/PR-11
budget process as well as the ongoing Quadrennial Defense
Review (QDR). I hope that you have all had a chance to
review our revised and updated Naval Aviation Vision
document, which was published last year and contains the
latest information on our many airplane and weapons
programs, taking a look as far out as 2030. While it is
certainly possible that future events will force us to
constantly consider the aircraft and weapons build plans
between now and 2030, as described in the Vision, it is
still the essential foundation upon which “our strategic,
operational, and fiscal decisions are anchored” (to quote
directly from the document). As you read the Vision
document, notice that our necking down strategy of reducing
Type/Model/Series will continue. So far, the reduction in
aircraft types has markedly improved logistics support and
readiness at all levels of aviation from the training
command to air wings, and will only continue to do so. Also
note the increase in unmanned forces as we move forward in
this growth area of aviation. Currently, unmanned tactical
aviation is at the very early stages of operational
development and employment. However, it is safe to say
that this will be an increased focus area for years to come
and we can expect to see unmanned aerial vehicles play an
increasing role in our operations. I invite and encourage
you to view the entire Naval Aviation Vision document at
the following link:
http://www.cnaf.navy.mil/nae/main.asp?ItemID=12
Finally, a hearty thanks all the
members of ANA for their tremendous support of our Naval
Aviation force. The ANA team is a very important in
keeping the public aware of the accomplishments of Naval
Aviation and the vital role it plays in defending America.
I ask you all to KEEP IT UP and press! Attend local
squadron events and don’t hesitate to ask folks to join you
in supporting YOUR Naval Aviation team. I am heartened by
the resurgence of our local DC ANA squadron and I am
looking forward to additional events with them. It fills me
with confidence and pride to know that I can count on the
continued support of the ANA membership as we prepare Naval
Aviation for our “second” 100 years. Speaking of which, the
100th anniversary of Naval Aviation is fast
approaching and I strongly encourage all of you to actively
participate in the many events and celebrations that will
take place during our upcoming centennial. VADM Kilcline,
our Air Boss, has been tasked by CNO as the lead on this
year-long celebration of the tremendous legacy and bright
future of YOUR Naval Aviation force. Additional gouge can
be found on the Commander, Naval Air Forces website:
http://www.cnaf.navy.mil/centennial/
That’s it from me for this issue, take
care and keep the ball in the middle!
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