T 5077

Theodore Austell, Jr.

Excerpts from retirement letter:

"It is with great pleasure that I recognize your sustained superior performance and dedication to duty during your thirty years active duty with the United States Navy.

You began your active duty career in June 1956 when you reported to the United States Training Command San Diego for basic training. After completing basic training and the follow on Airman's Fundamentals School, Radarman "A" School and Air Controller Warning School in June 1957 you were promoted to Air Controlman Third Class and received orders to report to Airborne Early Warning Squadron FOURTEEN, Barbers Point, Hawaii. While stationed in Barbers Point you were promoted to Air Controlman Second Class. In June 1960 you received orders Naval Air Station Miramar, Calif. With an intermediate stop at Air Controller "A" School. While attached to NAS Miramar you were promoted to Air Traffic Controller First Class. In November 1963 you duty station was Pacific Missile Range Facility, Kwajalein, Marshall Islands. A short eight months later you reported to NAS Agana Guam to take over as Leading Petty Officer and control tower supervisor. October 1965 had you receiving orders to NAS Quonset Point Rhode Island with an intermediate stop at Air Controlman "B" School. The year 1967 proved to be a very accomplished year for you; you were selected as NAS Quonset Point's "Sailor of the Year" and also promoted to Chief Air Traffic Controller. While still attached to NAS Quonset Point you were sent to temporary active duty Ground Control Approach School, Memphis. In October 1969 you received orders to the USS Shangri La (CV-38) as the carrier control approach supervisor. After a successful year at sea, in March 1971 you reported to NAS Jacksonville as the Air Traffic Control Facility Leading Chief and you were also promoted to Senior Chief Air Traffic Controller. In June 1972 you were promoted to both Master Chief Air Traffic Controller and Warrant Office One. In August 1972 you transferred to NAS Roosevelt Roads, Ceiba, Puerto Rico and you continued through the warrant ranks making Chief Warrant Officer Two in June 1973. August 1975 found you transferred to NAS Pensacola where you remained one year and were promoted to Chief Warrant Officer Three in April 1976. In July 1976 you were transferred to NAS Jacksonville, Fl. for a three year tour of duty. During this time you were the Carrier Control Approach Officer. You served in this capacity until you were transferred in October 1980 to the Fleet Air Control and Surveillance Facility, Jacksonville, Fl. where you served as the Electronics Maintenance Department Head. In January 1984 you reported to the Naval Recruiting District, Atlanta as the Officer Programs Officer and you were promoted to Lieutenant Commander in October 1984. While serving as Officer Programs Officer you also were responsible for minority recruiting. With your leadership, all minority goals were exceeded and Navy Recruiting District Atlanta's Officer Programs moved up significantly in the National Competition System. In recognition of your achievements in recruiting, you became a member of the Commodore's Wardroom and received eight gold wreaths for sustained superior performance. The other noted achievements in your career were the Navy Achievement Medal (second award) Good Conduct Medal (fourth award,), the National Defense Service Medal, the Vietnam Service Medal, the Vietnam Campaign Medal, the Expert Pistol Medal, the Sharpshooter Medal, and the Navy Sea Service Deployment Ribbon.

After thirty years of faithful service I extend to you my sincere appreciation for a job well done and wish you Fair Winds and Following Seas in the new careen on which you are about to embark."

After retiring from thirty years of active duty naval service, LCDR Austell continued to wear the Navy uniform. He entered his second career as a Navy Junior Reserve Officer Corps Unit instructor at Frederick Douglass High School in Atlanta, Georgia. During the last nine years of his ten years at the school he was the senior officer in charge of the NJROTC unit, and during each of those years the school was recognized by the US Navy as a "Honor School." This prestigious award is indicative of superior, sustained performance and achievement.

During his tenure the NJROTC unit was cited and recognized for many achievements, especially in gaining higher education scholarships and grants for the unit's cadets. Under his direction and guidance unit students won many academic scholarships to many of the nation's top colleges and universities, competed and won many Field Meets and participated in numerous civic, charitable, governmental, and community events and functions. One of the most notable was having one student recognized as the top (U.S. Navy Gilliam Award) NJROTC cadet in the United States for school year 1996/97. That cadet won more than $700,000 in scholarships, grants and stipends from the country's colleges and universities.