Ryan T. Nelson
Ridefield brothers Jonathan R. Nelson and Ryan T. Nelson have both become pilots in the U.S. Navy.
In November of last year, Lt. Jonathan R. Nelson returned from an eight-month deployment aboard the USS Nimitz.
A naval flight officer on the E-2C Hawkeye, he passed the 1,000-flight-hour mark in that aircraft during this time.
Through the summer and into the fall, sailing more than 80,000 nautical miles, the Nimitz crossed the equator, conducted exercises with coalition countries and other nations in the third, seventh, fifth, and sixth fleet areas of responsibility; conducted port visits in the Republic of Korea, Thailand, United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, and Italy and spent 63 days in direct support of coalition forces for Operation Enduring Freedom, during which time it executed 1,374 sorties in support of combat operations.
During deployment, his E-2 Squadron, VAW-117 “Wallbangers” were the recipients of the Battle “E” Award, as well as Carrier Air Wing 11’s Golden Wrench Award. The Wallbangers were also honored with the Rear Adm. Frank Aker’s Award, given to the top carrier airborne early warning squadron in the fleet. Lt. Jonathan Nelson is stationed at NAS Norfolk, Va. He is an instructor at VAW-120 “Greyhawks,” the squadron from which he received his naval flight officer’s wings.
Jonathan R. Nelson
Subsequent to his winging as a naval aviator in 2012, Lt. JG Ryan T. Nelson completed his Fleet Replacement Squadron training at NS Mayport, prior to attending SERE — Survival, Evasion, Resistance and Escape — school and joining his permanent helicopter squadron, HSM-72 “Proud Warriors” at Naval Air Station Jacksonville in the spring of 2013.
In addition to his flying duties, Ryan’s daily responsibilities also include some HR and PR work, and he has had several articles published. Ryan recently completed his certification of second pilot on his way to becoming an aircraft commander. Lt. Ryan Nelson received his promotion to full lieutenant on June 2 and is on deployment in Europe.
The Nelsons are the sons of Marcia and Dick Nelson of 49 Pheasant Drive.