Montecito High grad serves with ‘Tophatters’

This is one in the Sentinel’s “Where Are They Now?” series about Ramona graduates — where they are and what they are doing.

A 2005 Montecito High School graduate is serving with the U.S. Navy’s Strike Fighter Squadron Fourteen, also known as the “Tophatters,” at Naval Air Station Lemoore in California.

Petty Officer 2nd Class Damon McGinty is an aviation ordnanceman with the squadron, which the Navy designates as VFA-14, and works with the Navy’s most lethal and versatile strike fighter aircraft, the F/A-18E Super Hornet.

“We work with weapons systems on aircraft,” said McGinty.

The Montecito High graduate said he is proud of the work he is doing as part of the squadron’s 217-member team, helping to protect America on the world’s oceans.

“The Navy has given me a good sense of work ethic and sense of accomplishment,” said McGinty.

The Super Hornet takes off from and lands on Navy aircraft carriers and is capable of conducting air-to-air combat as well as air-to-surface combat. It is approximately 61 feet long, has a maximum loaded weight of 66,000 pounds, and a maximum speed of 1,190 mph.

Operating from the sea aboard aircraft carriers, the Super Hornet gives the Navy the power to protect U.S. interests anywhere, at any time, according to the military branch. The versatile jet has the ability to destroy targets located hundreds of miles inland, without the need to get another country’s permission to operate within its borders, said the Navy.

“Without ordnance, the aircraft would just be another plane without any mission,” said McGinty.

Sailors’ jobs are varied in VFA-14. Approximately 24 officers and 193 enlisted men and women make up and keep all parts of the squadron running smoothly — this includes everything from maintaining aircraft airframes and engines, to processing paperwork, handling weaponry, and flying the aircraft.

“I enjoy the camaraderie within this squadron,” McGinty said.

“VFA-14 is made up of a group of hardworking and skilled individuals whom work exceptionally well together,” said Cmdr. Tommy Locke, VFA-14’s commanding officer. “Being a part of a squadron with as much history as VFA-14 instills a lot of pride and honor in our team and in the work we do. Everyone knows their job and what is expected of them to complete our mission.”

The Tophatters are the Navy’s oldest active squadron, having formed in 1919. Since the squadron’s inception they have flown 23 different types of aircraft, changed designations 14 times, and operated from 20 different aircraft carriers.

—Submitted by Navy Office of Community Outreach Public Affairs

Know a Ramona graduate for “Where Are They Now?” Call 760-789-1350 or email editor@ramonasentinel.com.