Page 15 - The MIL Connection: Fall 2022

MIL Inductees into the TACAMO Hall of Fame

Those who have served and supported the Naval Aviation community are all familiar with the TACAMO Community Veterans
Association. TACAMO is a not-for-profit (501c3) organization that serves veterans, civil first responders, and independent
overseas defense contractors that have been deployed in areas of conflict. Their mission is to provide Hope, Honor, and Healing
to positively impact the lives of the members of these communities.
A Brief History of TACAMO.
"Take Charge and Move Out!" (TACAMO). In 1961, the Chief of Naval Operations used these words to task the development of
a unique part of Naval Aviation. The nation needed a reliable strategic communications system between the President and other
national command authorities with nuclear ballistic missile submarines.
This system had to survive any hostile military action. The Navy created such a system, modifying a Marine Corps KC-130
Hercules transport aircraft with a Very Low Frequency radio transmitter capable of communicating with submerged missile
submarines. This experiment was a success and TACAMO, with its "Take Charge and Move Out" mission, was born.

In 2012, the TACAMO Community Veterans Association instituted a Hall of Fame to recognize outstanding and enduring
people that helped to develop, execute, and sustain the TACAMO mission.
MIL is proud to announced that our Rapid Engineering and Prototyping Solutions (REPS) Sector recently had two members
enter the TACAMO Hall of Fame. Don Hutcherson, who through an Interagency Agreement (IAA) between the Naval Air
Warfare Center Aircraft Division (NAWCAD) and U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), currently serves as a Senior
Logistician providing support to the Homeland Security mission; and former MIL employee Scott Ely who was also a Senior
Logistician supporting the same IAA and CBP Mission until his passing in June of 2019. Prior to joining MIL, both had long
careers serving in the U.S. Navy in support of the Naval Aviation mission.

REPS Sector Senior Vice President Tom Clark stated that “It is a great honor to work with and have members of our REPS
team recognized by their peers, co-workers, and an outstanding organization such as TACAMO, for their commitment and
service to their fellow veterans, the Naval Aviation community, and our Country. Their induction into the TACAMO Hall of
Fame recognizes these two outstanding individuals for their technical and professional leadership, community service, and
contribution to the Navy’s mission, Naval Aviation, and the morale of fellow sailors during and after their time of duty. It is
with great pleasure that I can recognize and congratulate two of MIL’s most valuable members for their service to our country,
community, and MIL’s success.”

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