COMNAVAIRPAC announces Aviator of the Year

Commander, Naval Air Pacific recently announced Lt. Cmdr. Yarema "Yarko" Sos as their 1997 Aviator of the Year.

"I was surprised and shocked," said Sos, a pilot and Operations Officer from Fighter Squadron ONE FIVE FOUR (VF-154). "I didn’t expect to win the award."

Sos, a native of Washington D.C., earned his commission in 1985 after graduating from Vanderbilt University. He joined his first fleet squadron in 1988 after completing F-14 flight training. He reported to the Black Knights of VF-154 in March of 1996.

As the Operations Officer, Sos is responsible for scheduling, training, and flight hour management for his squadron. The squadron’s executive officer, Cmdr. Stuart Bailey, said Sos plays a very vital role in the squadron.

"He instills a professional spirit and that eagerness to do better in the air throughout the squadron," said Bailey from Virginia Beach, Va.

Sos said it’s a job that he enjoys and finds very satisfying.

"I enjoy watching the newer pilots mature, grow, and learn," he said. "I like being able to teach. I enjoy the satisfaction of helping people become better pilots, better officers and just better members of the Navy."

Sos will have the opportunity to use his training talents when he departs the Black Knights and heads to NAS Fallon to become a "Top Gun" instructor. Despite being chosen as the aviator of the year and receiving orders to "Top Gun," Sos said he couldn't nail down one specific experience in the Navy that stands above the rest.

Through all the experiences, Sos said the never-ending challenge of being a fighter pilot is what keeps him in the Navy.

"Certainly this cruise has been challenging and there has been a lot of excitement," Sos said, "but it’s a lot different than a 9-to-5 job, and that’s what keeps me in."

His executive officer also sees that Sos still enjoys flying.

"He still loves it," Bailey said. "You see it in his face everyday in his approach to flying, the way he briefs, how he works with the younger pilots and radar intercept officers, and the way he makes better aviators out of all of us."

Bailey added that he believes this is one of the factors that led to Sos’ selection as Aviator of the Year.

"I’ve seen a lot of guys that have talent similar to his, but it’s that day in and day out enthusiasm, that level of professionalism, and the dedication to do the job right that sets Sos apart," Bailey said. "There is a moral courage in there, too that you don’t see everyday in today’s Navy."

Sos was a little more humble in his assessment of his selection.

"It just comes down to hard work, the understanding of what is required, and trying to do your best," Sos said. "And for some reason, someone figured out that was good enough to win, and I appreciate that."

Also included in the message from COMNAVAIRPAC was the Order of Daedlians Distinguished Airmanship Award recipient.

Lt. Timothy Ericsen, formerly a pilot with VFA-27, is awarded this honor for his actions while the Indy was in the Tasman Sea last year.

According to Ericsen’s nomination submission, April 2, 1997 he suffered a catastrophic failure of the port main landing gear during a night launch from Independence. As his port landing gear collapsed, the aircraft’s port wing tip struck the center deck operator hatch cover completely separating the wing tip missile launcher and severely damaging the port wing tip, leading edge flaps, and aileron.

Despite numerous mechanical problems with the F/A-18C Hornet, Ericsen successfully landed the aircraft on a remote landing strip in Australia 200 miles away from "Freedom’s Flagship" with the damaged port main landing gear trailing lifelessly.

The submission also says Ericsen’s professional airmanship in the face of danger saved the aircraft from certain destruction or loss at sea.

Ericsen is also nominated for the Chief of Naval Operations Aviation Valor Award. Presently he’s a Fleet Replacement Instructor at VMFAT 101 "The Shooters" in El Toro, California.

Caption: Lt. Cmdr. Yarema Sos of VF-154 is the COMNAVAIRPAC Aviator of the Year.