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FROM THE EDITOR

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Chiefs Pinning

Starbase Children Tour

Big Abe is back. We pulled into Norfolk at the beginning of last month, where we were greeted with cheers, hugs and kisses. A very welcome welcome home indeed. We enjoyed some much-needed and long-awaited time off, time spent starting new chapters of our lives with our families and friends.

Speaking of new chapters, the finest warship anywhere (this one, of course) is busy getting ready for the next phase of her mission, our mid-life refueling complex overhaul (RCOH). A big undertaking to say the least, the RCOH period will require all of us to essentially remove everything that’s not welded down.

Before we could turn our collective attention to that massive task, though, we had to take care of some very important items: we pinned our newest chief petty officers, hosted a group of local science students and welcomed a brand-new commanding officer, Capt. Karl Thomas.

The ship is back to work, Lincoln Nation. Get ready to rock and roll again!

Change of Command

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The leadership of Lincoln held a change of command ceremony in the ship's hangar

bay, Sept. 21. At the ceremony, Capt. Karl

O. Thomas relieved Capt. John D. Alexander as Lincoln’s commanding officer in front of the ship’s crew, family members and friends. Participants included Rear Adm. Ted Branch, commander, Naval Air Forces Atlantic, and Rear Adm. Mike Shoemaker, commander, Carrier Strike Group Nine.

Alexander assumed command of Lincoln in January 2010, when he relieved Capt. Patrick D. Hall at a ceremony in Everett, Wash. His next assignment will be as Assistant Commander for Career Management at the Navy Personnel Command in Millington, Tenn.

Alexander said he will always remember the Lincoln crew and their unmatched professionalism and dedication.

“This has been the most physically and mentally demanding job I have ever had and, without a doubt, the most rewarding,” he said. “This crew and this strike group team have been enormously successful. It has been that way for one reason and one reason alone: a collective selfless commitment to excellence.”

Thomas said he is honored to follow in Alexander’s footsteps.

“Captain Alexander has built a winning culture and an extremely cohesive team on board Abe,” Thomas said. “This crew has answered the call twice, in short succession, and they have answered it with professionalism and zeal. That winning culture and enthusiasm will be extremely important as we enter the next phase of ABE’s life.

“We have the opportunity to get Abe back into the fight, right and on time or ahead of schedule, with more war fighting capability, ready for another 25 years of service to this country. We

have the opportunity to show that we are up for the challenge.”

Thomas’ most recent assignment was at the Office of the Secretary of Defense at the Pentagon in Washington, D.C. Lincoln marks his first assignment commanding an aircraft carrier.

Thomas received his commission in 1986 after graduating from the Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute with a degree in management systems. Prior to commanding Lincoln, Thomas served as the commanding officer of the U.S. 6th Fleet command ship USS Mount Whitney (LCC 17) and the executive officer aboard the Nimitz-class aircraft carriers USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN 69) and USS George Washington (CVN 73).

During the past two years, Lincoln has completed two deployments, including an eight-month change of homeport deployment that brought her to Naval Station Norfolk from Naval Station Everett, Wash., her home since January 1997.

LINCOLN WELCOMES

OUR NEW

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COMMANDING OFFICER

U.S. Navy Photo by MCSN Zachary A. Anderson

U.S. Navy Photo by MC3 Mason Campbell

U.S. Navy Photo by MCSA Kayla King

U.S. Navy Photo by MCSA Michael Raney

U.S. Navy Photo by MCSN Joshua Walters

U.S. Navy Photo by MCSN Joshua Walters

U.S. Navy Photo by MCSN Zachary A. Anderson

U.S. Navy Photo by MC3 Zachary S. Welch

U.S. Navy Photo by MC3 Zachary S. Welch

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U.S. Navy Photo by MCSN Joshua Walters

6 VOLUME 24 , ISSUE 28

Science Students

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U.S. Navy Photo by MCSN Zachary A. Anderson

The first commanding officer of Lincoln visited the ship with dozens of Virginia

children, Sept. 24, to tour Lincoln and launch model rockets from a Norfolk Naval Station softball field.

Now the head of a local nonprofit organization, Rear Adm. Bill Hayden (retired), executive director of Starbase Victory, led the students on a tour of the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier, which included stops in various spaces aboard the carrier, including the flight deck, bridge, forecastle and fantail.

“It was an amazing experience for the children, because they were exposed to real life applications of math and science,” said Hayden. “The visit not only sparked more curiosity, but also gave the children pride and respect for those who serve in the military.”

After seeing the ship, they traveled to the nearby field to launch rockets built using the skills they developed at Starbase Victory, a science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) pathway program for fourth through sixth graders from Portsmouth, Va. public schools.

Following the rocket launch, the Starbase group returned to the ship to enjoy lunch in the ship’s forecastle.

“Seeing all of the neat equipment in the ship made me want to understand how all of it works,” said Starbase participant Taihuannia Woodard, though she admitted the tour took a backseat to the highlight of the afternoon, the rocket launch.

“Building the rocket was my favorite part of the program,” she said. “I got to understand how all of the parts fit together to create something that works.”

Capt. Karl O. Thomas, Lincoln's

Visit LincolnStory by MC3 Kathleen Church

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“...an amazing experience for the children, because they were exposed to real life

applications of math and science.” -Rear Adm. Bill Hayden (retired)

U.S. Navy Photo by MCSN Zachary A. Anderson

U.S. Navy Photo by MCSN Zachary A. Anderson

U.S. Navy Photo by MCSN Joshua Walters

commanding officer, accompanied the group throughout the tour and rocket launch. He said the tour was an important opportunity to expose local youth to some military technology.

“It gives them a chance to see what is possible with math and science, and a chance to inspire them to create new technology,” Thomas said.

U.S. Navy Photo by MCSN Zachary A. Anderson

U.S. Navy Photo by MC2 Jerine Lee

U.S. Navy Photo by MC2 Jerine LeeU.S. Navy Photo by MC3 Mason Campbell

LINCOLNPINS NEW CHIEFS

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Shipmates

RATE/RANK & FIRST NAME: Aviation Maintenance Administrationman 3rd Class Lawrence ManningDEPT/DIV: Air Department/V-2 QAHOMETOWN: Myrtle Beach, SCWHEN DID YOU JOIN THE NAVY? December 2009WHEN DID YOU REPORT TO LINCOLN? June 2010WHY DID YOU JOIN THE NAVY? I’m a military brat who comes from a family of service.WHAT DO YOU DO ON THE SHIP? I am a general librarian, and I also work with the ship’s color guard. WHAT ARE YOUR GOALS? To make 2nd class and then put in an officer packageWHAT ARE YOUR HOBBIES? Camping, fishing, mountain climbing FAVORITE QUOTE? “The only easy day was yesterday.”

Story and photos by MC3 Jeremiah Mills

Story and photos by MCSA Kayla King

RATE/RANK & FIRST NAME: Damage Controlman 3rd Class Mathew BrownDEPT/DIV: Engineering/Damage ControlmanHOMETOWN: Belle Fourche, SDWHEN DID YOU JOIN THE NAVY? February 2011WHEN DID YOU REPORT TO LINCOLN? August 2011WHY DID YOU JOIN THE NAVY? Family traditionWHAT DO YOU DO ON THE SHIP? Damage Control Petty OfficerWHAT ARE YOUR GOALS? To become a firefighter or get into law enforcement.WHAT ARE YOUR HOBBIES? I like to snowboard and work on my Mach 1 Mustang.FAVORITE QUOTE? “Life moves pretty fast. If you don’t stop and look around once in a while, you could miss it.” -- Ferris Bueller.