There will be a naval aviator designation ceremony on Friday, beginning at 1 p.m. in the Naval Operational Support Center, on board Naval Air Station Meridian.

    Twelve U.S. Navy and Marine Corps aviators will receive their “Wings of Gold” during the ceremony. The naval aviator designation ceremony is not prescribed specifically by U.S. Navy regulations, but has emerged as an honored product of the rich heritage of naval tradition.  

    It marks the culmination of nearly two years of specialized training, which has prepared officers for the rigorous demands of aerial combat and carrier operations — earning each the title of “Naval Aviator” and the right to wear the coveted “Wings of Gold.”

    Capt. Chris Moore, commanding officer, NAS Meridian, will be the speaker.

    Those earning their “Wings of Gold” include:

    First Lt. Donald Bussell, USMC, who was named to the Commodore’s List during Primary Flight Training. He earned two Navy “E’s” for bombing accuracy during Advanced Jet Flight Training and carrier qualified in the T-45C on board the USS Harry S. Truman (CVN-75) on Aug. 4. Bussell completed Advanced Jet Flight Training with Training Squadron Nine;

    Lt. j.g. Colin Caines, USN, who earned one Navy “E” for bombing accuracy during Advanced Jet Flight Training and carrier qualified in the T-45C on board the USS Harry S. Truman (CVN-75) on Nov. 6. Caines completed Advanced Jet Flight Training with Training Squadron Nine;

    Ensign Stephane Carrier, French navy, who earned two Navy “E’s” for bombing accuracy during Advanced Jet Flight Training and carrier qualified in the T-45C on board the USS Harry S. Truman (CVN-75) on Nov. 6. Carrier completed Advanced Jet Flight Training with Training Squadron Seven;

    Ensign Julien Conrad, French navy, who earned one Navy “E” for bombing accuracy during Advanced Jet Flight Training and carrier qualified in the T-45C on board the USS Harry S. Truman (CVN-75) on Nov. 5. Conrad completed Advanced Jet Flight Training with Training Squadron Seven;

    Ensign Ryle Evanoff, USN, who was named to the Commodore’s List during Primary Flight Training. He earned two Navy “E’s” for bombing accuracy during Advanced Jet Flight Training and carrier qualified in the T-45C on board the USS Harry S. Truman (CVN-75) on Dec. 15.  Evanoff completed Advanced Jet Flight Training with Training Squadron Seven;

    Ensign Eric Ferrachat, French navy, who was named to the Commodore’s List during Primary Flight Training. He earned four Navy “E’s” for bombing accuracy during Advanced Jet Flight Training and carrier qualified in the T-45C on board the USS Harry S. Truman (CVN-75) on Dec. 15. Ferrachat completed Advanced Jet Flight Training with Training Squadron Seven;

    Lt. j.g. Robert Fridinger, USN, who was named to the Commodore’s List during Primary Flight Training. He earned two Navy “E’s” for bombing accuracy during Advanced Jet Flight Training and carrier qualified in the T-45C on board the USS Harry S. Truman (CVN-75) on Nov. 6.  Fridinger completed Advanced Jet Flight Training with Training Squadron Nine;

    First Lt. David Hawkins, USMC, who earned two Navy “E’s” for bombing accuracy during Advanced Jet Flight Training and carrier qualified in the T-45C on board the USS Harry S. Truman (CVN-75) on Nov. 6. Hawkins completed Advanced Jet Flight Training with Training Squadron Seven;

    First Lt. Jacob Hempen, USMC, who earned two Navy “E’s” for bombing accuracy during Advanced Jet Flight Training. Additionally, he was named to the Commodore’s List with Distinction and designated a CNATRA Distinguished Naval Graduate. He carrier qualified in the T-45C on board the USS Harry S. Truman (CVN-75) on Nov. 6. Hempen completed Advanced Jet Flight Training with Training Squadron Seven;

    Lt. j.g. Michael Johnson, USN, who earned one Navy “E” for bombing accuracy during Advanced Jet Flight Training and carrier qualified in the T-45C on board the USS Harry S. Truman (CVN-75) on Dec. 15. Johnson completed Advanced Jet Flight Training with Training Squadron Seven;

    Lt. j.g. John Keilty, USN, who earned five Navy “E’s” for boming accuracy during Advanced Jet Flight Training and carrier qualified in the T-45C on board the USS Harry S. Truman (CVN-75) on Nov. 5. Keilty completed Advanced Jet Flight Training with Training Squadron Nine;

    Lt. j.g. Tom Litchfield, USN, who earned three Navy “E’s” for bombing accuracy during Advanced Jet Flight Training and carrier qualified in the T-45C on board the USS Harry S. Truman (CVN-75) on Dec. 14. Litchfield completed Advanced Jet Flight Training with Training Squadron Seven;

    Lt. j.g. Lawrence Stoulig, USN, who earned three Navy “E’s” for bombing accuracy during Advanced Jet Flight Training and carrier qualified in the T-45C on board the USS Harry S. Truman (CVN-75) on Dec. 15. Stoulig completed Advanced Jet Flight Training with Training Squadron Seven;

    Lt. j.g. Alex Tidei, USN, who was named to the Commodore’s List during Primary Flight Training and was VT-9’s Student of the Month for April 2012. During Advanced Jet Flight Training, he earned two Navy “E’s” for bombing accuracy and carrier qualified in the T-45C on board the USS Harry S. Truman (CVN-75) on Nov. 6. Tidei completed Advanced Jet Flight Training with Training Squadron Nine;

    First Lt. Brandon Wiedower, USMC, who earned one Navy “E” for bombing accuracy during Advanced Jet Flight Training and carrier qualified in the T-45C on board the USS Harry S. Truman (CVN-75) on Nov. 5. Wiedower completed Advanced Jet Flight Training with Training Squadron Nine; and

    First Lt. Joshua Woods, USMC, who was named to the Commodore’s List during Primary Flight Training and earned three Navy “E’s” for bombing accuracy during Advanced Jet Flight Training. He carrier qualified in the T-45C on board the USS Harry S. Truman (CVN-75) on Aug. 4, when he was named VT-9’s “Top Hook” for that carrier qualification evolution. Woods completed Advanced Jet Flight Training with Training Squadron Nine.