DVIDS – News – Vice Chief of Naval Operations Visits Naval Weapons Station Yorktown

By Julius Evans, Public Affairs Officer
Naval Medical Readiness Logistics Command (NMRLC) and

Max Lonzanida, Public Affairs Officer
Naval Weapons Station Yorktown (NWSY)

Yorktown, Va. (May 29, 2024) Vice Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Jim Kilby visited Naval Weapons Station Yorktown to meet with service members and civilians at several tenant commands throughout the installation on Tuesday, May 29.

Kilby met with Cmdr. Kurt Davis, NWS Yorktown general manager at the installation's headquarters, before touring the installation's R-3 weapons dock. David Reeves, director of munitions operations, and Capt. Shaun Fisher, officer in charge of Navy Ordnance Command Detachment Yorktown, were on hand to welcome the group.

Reeves thanked several civilian weapons handlers for their dedication and hard work, especially over the past few months as hot spots across the world have led to an increased workload for the installation, which has entailed working on weekends to keep the fleet combat ready. Kilby personally presented several of them with challenge coins, while also meeting with leaders of the USS Donald Cook (DDG 75), during the installation of a weapons loadout.

“The Navy is able to defend freedom of navigation and security of passage because of the dedicated men and women here in Yorktown,” Kilby said. “I commend you all for your dedication and hard work, especially over the past year. What you do is invaluable to our Sailors deployed around the world, 24 hours a day.”

Kilby also toured the Navy's Underwater Torpedo Facility, meeting with Sailors and civilians assigned to the installation during a tour of the MK-48 Heavy Torpedo Maintenance Facility. Kilby served as Torpedoman's Mate 1st Class Ricardo Gonga's reenlistment officer during a command ceremony.

Kilby toured the installation's unaccompanied housing complex, where he met with civic leaders and tenants during a brief tour. Master-at-Arms Seamen Kanchez, Ramirez and Lowery were on hand to provide an overview of the

the docking facilities of Gray Hall, Building 2075 and the former Puller Hall, Building 1807. Additionally, some of the common areas of both buildings were also visited.

Finally, Kilby visited the Naval Ophthalmic Readiness Activity (NORA) led by Captain Brian Hatch. NORA, a department of the Naval Medical Service

Readiness Logistics Command, led by Capt. Christopher Barnes, is the largest of 22 U.S. Navy and U.S. Army optical manufacturing laboratories and provides guidance to all military optical manufacturing laboratories worldwide.

There, Kilby learned that NORA is the only laboratory producing eyewear for the Coast Guard, Public Health Service, NASA, NOAA, as well as providing optical care to active duty, reserve elements , NATO and other federal recipients.

In a show of hands following the tour, Kilby announced that Hospital Airman 3rd Class Avey Pokorny and Hospital Airman 3rd Class Michael Northland had been selected for promotion to the rank of Petty Officer. 2nd class, and both were happy to learn of their promotions with the VCNO.

This successful and insightful visit was a first to NWS Yorktown for the VCNO, and it provided insight into the operations and duties of the many military and civilian personnel assigned to the installation.