Astros Not the Only Team in Houston Flying High

Plenty of Houston locals have been flying high recently!

Air Force One was not the only military aircraft visiting Houston’s Ellington Field on Sunday Sept. 23. Parked alongside President Trump’s C-52 was a local service member, who also showed that he is an “Officer and a Gentlemen” and has the “Right Stuff.” Navy Lieutenant Jeremy Jenkins, a native of the Houston Area, flew to Ellington in style in his Navy F/A-18 E Super Hornet Jet a few days earlier. LT Jenkins is a member of the VFA-136 Knighthawks and goes by the call sign of “Sugas”.   LT Derrick deGraaf, call sign “TK” also flew a Super Hornet with him, in Visual formation from Naval Air Station Lemoore, California, where they are stationed. Both LT Jenkins and LT deGraaf are examples of what happens when Preparation and Dedication meets Opportunity.  

Another, excellent example out of the Houston (Clear Lake High School) area is F/A-18 Pilot, and now Commander Winston “Stoner” Scott (i.e., Son of Former Astronaut Winston E. Scott and Marilyn Scott).  CDR Scott is the current Commanding Officer of  Strike Fighter Squadron One Two Two (VFA-122), the Flying Eagles, which is the west coast Fleet Replacement Squadron, also based at NAS Lemoore.

Still another great example out of the Houston area is F/A-18 Hornet Pilot and Blue Angles Commander Captain Eric Doyle from Clear Creek High School.  https://www.blueangels.navy.mil/

LT Jenkins started flying when he was about fourteen years of age and was inspired and mentored by many people and organizations who recognized his talent and love for flying.  He attended Sterling High school, was a member of the Flying Tigers, as well as a student in the Summer Flight Academy, which was hosted by the Houston local flying club – The Bronze Eagles of Texas.   Many other organizations support the Summer Flight Academy such as the main Sponsor BPA, NASA, Lockheed Martin, Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Brazos Avionics, ERC, Raytheon, Signature Fixed Base Operations (FBO) at Ellington Field, Ellington Field Air Traffic Controllers and the Model Aircraft Association.  LT Jenkins continued his pursuit for greatness, attending and graduated from the United States Naval Academy, in Annapolis, MD.   

A host of family, friends and mentors came by Ellington on Sunday to provide a well-deserved send off for two of the Navy’s Finest, who are providing service to our great country.

Both LT Jenkins and LT deGraaf – received a model of the NASA Orion Spacecraft and a Model of the Space Launch System (SLS) just in case they decide later to venture out to the Moon and Mars (Artemis Missions). Keep an eye out for LT Jeremy Jenkins – he may appear somewhere else in the near future.