Nimitz Commanding Officer Was In The Back Seat

The commander of Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 11 completed his 1,000th carrier arrested landing, or trap, aboard the aircraft carrier USS Nimitz (CVN 68) June 18. Capt. Greg Harris completed the trap in an F/A-18F Super Hornet assigned to the "Black Knights" of Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 154.

Harris was joined by Capt. Jeff Ruth, Nimitz' commanding officer, who rode in the back seat for the trap. "I wanted to have the CO in the back seat to remind the crew how closely Nimitz and the air wing work together," said Harris. "I'm a firm believer that teamwork is a tradition."
 
Despite this major milestone in Harris' aviation career, he didn't view this as a personal achievement. "This wasn't so much an achievement for me as it was a reminder," said Harris. "Those 1,000 traps show the hard work from the guys maintaining the planes, working the catapults and arresting gears. You don't get to 1,000 without the sweat of someone moving those chains in 120 degree weather."
 
Ruth presented Harris with a congratulatory 1,000th trap plaque in ready room eight following the trap. "I'm lucky," said Harris. "The fact that I've been flying for so long around the people I love, most people don't get to say they've done something they enjoy for 25 straight years."
 
During his career, Harris has flown in eight different aircraft, amassing 4,000 hours over the past 25 years. Harris, from Yarmouth, Maine, began flying A-6 Intruders as a bombardier/navigator. He has flown in support of operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm, Southern Watch, Enduring and Iraqi Freedom, and he has commanded Strike Fighter Squadrons (VFA) 115 and 122. He assumed command of CVW-11 in April 2011.
 
CVW-11 and Nimitz are currently underway conducting carrier qualifications in preparation of the biennial Rim of the Pacific exercises. (Image courtesy U.S. Navy)

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