In a private ceremony recently at Naval Air Station North Island, Chief Aviation Electronics Technician (Aviation Warfare) Zachary Johnson (far left), son of Town Crier owners Becky and Jack Clark, was awarded the Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal for meritorious service while serving as maintenance control supervisor at Fleet Logistics Multi-Mission Squadron Five Zero (VRM-50) from April 2021 to September 2023.

Also, Chief Johnson was lauded for his exceptional leadership as leading chief petty officer for an emergency rescue detachment that expeditiously repaired and recovered a stranded CMV-22B Osprey aircraft from Naval Air Facility El Centro, California last month.

Under extreme environmental conditions, the crew of seven U.S. Navy sailors and two civilians undertook the replacement of the lefthand proprotor gearbox, the most extensive maintenance procedure on the Osprey, and one that the squadron had never performed. Their efforts paid off, and the aircraft safely returned home to North Island Sept. 16, just before sunset.

The small team provided invaluable feedback to fleet engineers that will help with process improvement for future gearbox changes. Three of the sailors were meritoriously awarded the Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal at a later ceremony.