There will be a naval aviator designation ceremony on Friday beginning at 1 p.m. in the Chapel on board NAS Meridian. Four U.S. Navy and Marine Corps aviators will receive “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, according to a press release. It marks the culmination of nearly two years of specialized training, which has prepared these 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,” the press release states.

    Capt. Brian Goszkowicz, Commander, Training Air Wing One, will be the speaker.    

    Those earning “Wings of Gold” include:

    First Lt. Carlo Bonci, USMC, who was selected as VT-9’s Student of the Month for December 2012. He earned five Navy “E’s” for bombing accuracy during Advanced Jet Flight Training and carrier qualified in the T-45C on board the USS George H. W. Bush (CVN-77) on April 27. Bonci completed Advanced Jet Flight Training with Training Squadron Nine;

    First Lt. Evan Bottorff, 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 George H. W. Bush (CVN-77) on April 27. Bottorff completed Advanced Jet Flight Training with Training Squadron Nine;

    Lt. j.g. Christopher Burke, USN, 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 George H. W. Bush (CVN-77) on April 26. Burke completed Advanced Jet Flight Training with Training Squadron Nine;

    Second Lt. Pierrick Chavy, French air force, who carrier qualified in the T-45C on board the USS Ronald Reagan (CVN-76) on July 19. Chavy completed Advanced Jet Flight Training with Training Squadron Seven;

    Lt. j.g. James Corrin, USN, who was named to the Commodore’s List during Primary Flight Training and was VT-9’s Student of the Month for November 2012. 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 George H. W. Bush (CVN-77) on June 9. Corrin completed Advanced Jet Flight Training with Training Squadron Nine;

    Capt. Kyle DeFranceschi, USMC, who was selected as VT-7’s Student of the Month for June 2013. He earned three Navy “E’s” for bombing accuracy during Advanced Jet Flight Training and carrier qualified in the T-45C on board the USS George H. W. Bush (CVN-77) on June 10, when he was named VT-7’s “Top Hook” for that carrier qualification evolution. DeFranceschi completed Advanced Jet Flight Training with Training Squadron Seven;

    First Lt. Dennis Habecker, USMC, who was named to the Commodore’s List during Primary Flight Training and was VT-9’s Student of the Month for February 2013. He earned three Navy “E’s” for bombing accuracy during Advanced Jet Flight Training and carrier qualified in the T-45C on board the USS George H. W. Bush (CVN-77) on June 10. Habecker completed Advanced Jet Flight Training with Training Squadron Nine;

    First Lt. Jonathan Rix, USMC, who was named to the Commodore’s List during Primary Flight Training and was VT-9’s Student of the Month for October 2012. He was designated a CNATRA Distinguished Naval Graduate and made the Commodore’s List with Distinction. He earned one Navy “E” for bombing accuracy during Advanced Jet Flight Training and carrier qualified in the T-45C on board the USS George H. W. Bush (CVN-77) on April 27. Rix completed Advanced Jet Flight Training with Training Squadron Nine;

    Lt. j.g. Neil Tublin, USN, who earned six Navy “E’s” for bombing accuracy during Advanced Jet Flight Training and carrier qualified in the T-45C on board the USS George H. W. Bush (CVN-77) on April 26. Tublin completed Advanced Jet Flight Training with Training Squadron Nine; and

    Lt. j.g. Jonathan Williams, USN, who was named to the Commodore’s List during Advanced Flight Training. He earned four Navy “E’s” for bombing accuracy and carrier qualified in the T-45C on board the USS George H. W. Bush (CVN-77) on April 26. Williams completed Advanced Jet Flight Training with Training Squadron Nine.