Naval Aviator's Flight Helmet Adds Another Story to the National Museum of Naval Aviation

PENSACOLA, Fla (NNS) -- The Director of Strategic Planning Division for the Office of the Chief of Navy Reserve donated her flight helmet to the National Naval Aviation Museum during a brief ceremony, April 29.

Capt. Tamara Ryley's helmet will take its place in a display honoring women in naval aviation at the museum at Naval Air Station Pensacola.

Prior to the ceremony, the helmet was repaired and decorated by Aviation Survival Equipmentman 1st Class Laura Tejedaramos, an instructor at Naval Air Technical Training Center (NATTC).

Tejedaramos decorated the helmet with Army sergeant chevrons, in remembrance of Ryley's enlisted service in the Army as an Electronic Warfare Signals Intelligence Analyst, and a large red cross pattee bearing the words West Coast Hercs recognizing Ryley's department head tour with Fleet Logistic Support Squadron (VR) 54 and as officer in charge of Fleet Logistic Support Squadron (VR) 55. At the bottom of the helmet is emblazoned Ryley's call sign "GINSU" and a small Navy captain's eagle represents her current rank.

While standing in front of the Women in Naval Aviation exhibit, and before returning the refurbished helmet to Ryley, Tejedaramos said to the gathered crowd that she was honored to have been part of the project.

"I'm happy that the helmet turned out well, and that my contribution will be on display here at the museum," said Tejedaramos.

Ryley thanked Tejedaramos for a job well done and went on to explain the meaning of each of the decorations on her helmet.

Ryley also said that when she enlisted in the Army after high school, "I never thought I'd be a captain in the U.S. Navy."

Ryley then presented the helmet to National Museum of Naval Aviation Representative, Hill Goodspeed. He thanked Ryley and Tejedaramos, and reminded those in attendance that every item on display at the museum has a person and a story that goes with it, and that Ryley's story will now be included with those.

NATTC's Executive Officer, Cmdr. Vic Bindi, said that, Ryley's story will be an inspiration for female pilots and NATTC students for years to come.

Riley and Tejedaramos both had the same advice for women who want to serve in the Navy, "Remember it is what you make of it, follow your dreams, and have fun," they said.

In addition to the command's previously mentioned, Ryley has also flown C-2 Greyhounds with Fleet Logistic Support Squadron (VR) 40 and was the commanding officer of Fleet Logistic Support Squadron (VR) 61.

For more than 70 years, NATTC has been delivering training and increasing readiness within the Naval Aviation Enterprise. NATTC graduates approximately 15,000 Navy and Marine students annually. The majority of the student body is comprised of enlisted personnel attending "A" schools, where they are gaining the knowledge and skills required to perform in fleet as technicians at the apprentice level.

Advanced schools provide higher level technical knowledge for senior petty officers and specialty schools offer specific skills not particular to any one rating, such as airman apprentice training, maintenance, personal financial management and shipboard aircraft firefighting. NATTC also conducts technical training for officers in aviation fuels, carrier air traffic control center operations, aircraft launch and recovery equipment, shipboard aircraft fire fighting and amphibious air traffic control center operations.

For more information about Naval Air Technical Training Center, visit their web site at https://www.netc.navy.mil/centers/cnatt/nattc/Default.aspx .

For more news from Naval Education and Training Command, visit www.navy.mil/local/cnet/.