LTJG Nicole J. Nordlie, USN
Lieutenant (Junior Grade) Nicole J. Nordlie, USN was selected by the Chief of Naval Air Training to receive the Rear Admiral Thurston H. James Memorial Award for 2018 which has been presented annually to the outstanding graduate of the Naval Flight Officer program achieving the highest overall flight and academic grades. The Award was established in 1965 by the General Commandery in honor of the 13th Commander General, who was designated a naval pilot in 1928.
The five phase Naval Flight School program includes Aviation Pre-flight Indoctrination (API), Primary Flight Training, Second Level Primary, Intermediate Flight Training, and Advanced Flight Training. Lieutenant Nordlie, a 2016 Naval Academy graduate, completed the six week API at NAS Pensacola with classes in engineering, aerodynamics, air navigation, aviation physiology, and water survival. She then completed eight months of primary, secondary, and intermediate flight training at NAS Pensacola, Florida, which included ground-based academics, simulators and flight training in the T-6A Texan II. The multi stage program included Familiarization (FAM), Basic Instruments, Precision Aerobatics, Formation, Night FAM, Radio Instruments, and Low Level navigation.
Lieutenant Nordlie next completed twelve months of advanced flight training in the Jet/Strike pipeline at NAS Pensacola, Florida, flying the T-45 Goshawk. During Strike-Fighter training, she learned Air-to-Surface tactics, weapons delivery, Air-to-Air tactics, and combat maneuvering. Most recently, she completed the 11 month Fleet Replacement Squadron training program to learn the basics of air-to-air and air-to-ground missions of the F/A-18F Super Hornet at Strike Fighter Squadron 106 (VFA-106) at NAS Oceana, Virginia.
Lieutenant Nordlie was presented the Rear Admiral Thurston H. James Memorial Award by Captain Paul Crissy, USCG (Ret) on June 19, 2019 during VFA-106’s patching ceremony where she learned that she would be assigned to Strike Fighter Squadron 102 (VFA-102), the ‘Diamondbacks’ at Naval Air Facility Iwakuni flying the F/A-18F Super Hornet. In making the presentation, Crissy noted that “This award is an awesome accomplishment. Drawing from a pool of our most talented junior officers in a demanding training curriculum, Lieutenant Nordlie’s academic performance and proficiency is remarkable. This is the first step in what I am sure will prove to be an extraordinary career.”
Lieutenant Nordlie was excited about her upcoming assignment and the opportunity to serve in a forward deployed command. In receiving the award, she thanked “the countless persons who supported and mentored her throughout the training program.”
Lieutenant Aubrey Bennett, USN her class advisor at VFA-106 noted that “Lieutenant Nordlie distinguished herself as a professional ‘in search of excellence;’ a naval aviator who can be relied on in every mission.”
BZ Lieutenant Nordlie!