MILITARY AFFAIRS THIS MONTH

Key West Military Affairs Committee’s (MAC) mission is to foster and strengthen the relationship between the military and civilians in our community through education and service. The MAC strives to provide educational opportunities to the community to increase understanding of military initiatives to avoid potential conflicts and incompatible operations.

Quality-of-life initiatives such as sponsoring programs for the well-being of the military and supporting Sigsbee Charter School, Wounded Warrior Project’s Soldier Ride and our namesake nuclear submarine, USS Key West, are key focus areas.

Message from MAC President Ron Demes:

At the March MAC meeting, in addition to recognizing local commands’ military members of the quarter and year, the committee was privileged to have Capt. Andy Pate, commanding officer of the USCGC Mohawk, speak about his last two years commanding the Mohawk and a few of his command’s many noteworthy accomplishments. These include two deployments to the Pacific Ocean involving intercepts of illicit drug traffickers, escort of the U.S. Coast Guard’s newest two Fast Response Cutters across the Atlantic as far as Portugal (for the two cutters to continue to Bahrain), continuing on after meeting with dignitaries in Portugal to make six port calls in Africa while on patrol protecting U.S. interests and building relationships with various African nations such as Nigeria. 

Upon return to Key West, Mohawk quickly mobilized again with Capt. Pate serving as commander of the surface action group leading nine vessels out of harm’s way of Hurricane Ian with 450 USCG personnel underway and 130 intercepted migrants on board Mohawk.

Capt. Pate departs this summer for Alameda, California to serve as USCG Chief of Maritime Forces Pacific Area. We are hopeful for his return someday, just as former Mohawk Commanding Officer Rear Adm. Mark Fedor did. Fedor is now director of Joint Interagency Task Force – South (JIATFS).

Women’s History Month

March is Women’s History month and the MAC, along with the military, especially acknowledge the pioneering women, past and present, as important contributors to the achievements of the Military Services and civilian workforce. Key West Military Affairs Committee is proud to highlight one such pioneer, Captain Lin V. Hutton, who served in Key West from 1995 to1997 as the U.S. Navy’s first female commanding officer of a Naval Air Station. Captain Hutton was truly a force to be reckoned with coming to Key West after also serving as the first Aircraft Carrier-Based Squadron female commanding officer. She went on to build strong relationships with the Key West community, was a graduate of Leadership Monroe County and member of Key West Sunrise Rotary Club. Upon leaving Key West, she reported to the Chief of Naval Operations Strategic Studies Group whose mission is to generate revolutionary naval warfare concepts. Hutton later retired from the Navy and followed her calling to be an Episcopal minister and currently serves in Orange, Virginia. 

Hutton will long be remembered for putting her career on the line when successfully fighting to keep Naval Air Station Key West from closing under the Base Realignment and Closure Act of 1995. She is one of my heroes and I am extremely proud to have served under her command.