Aviation Machinist's Mate 1st Class Jason Herken of Electronic Attack Squadron (VAQ) 139 was selected March 14 to partner with Amazon as a selectee for the "Tours with Industry" (TWI) program.

The TWI program is a voluntary program established by the Secretary of the Navy, and pertains to officers and enlisted personnel serving in the Navy and Marine Corps, with a minimum of five years of service.

Participants must have distinguished performance in their career fields and have high potential for future leadership positions.

"I'm extremely excited that I was selected for the Tours with Industry program," Herken said. "I'm looking forward to applying at Amazon what I have learned as a Navy leader, and to bring back lessons that Amazon can teach me; hopefully to strengthen the Navy and Amazon as a whole."

Herken joined the Navy in July 2006 and has served with Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 137 at Naval Air Station Lemoore in California, and with VAQ 129 and VAQ 139 at Naval Air Station Whidbey Island, Washington.

"I will be particularly looking for efficiency and leadership tactics, like what makes Amazon the company it is and how does Amazon motivate its people?" Herken said. "These are simple questions that can have complex answers. By working with the Amazon team, I will gain firsthand knowledge about how they operate as a company."

"Herken is going to bring deckplate leadership to Amazon," VAQ-139 Commanding Officer, Cmdr. Lew Callaway said. "Through this program Herken will have the latitude to take more risks and have a greater level of authority from an organizational standpoint than most Sailors. It's a good opportunity for him and it might help him advance to the chief petty officer level or higher."

More information about the TWI program can be found by visiting www.navy.mil/submit/display.asp?story_id=91361

For more news from Commander, Naval Air Forces, visit www.navy.mil/.