Walk into the Carrier Air Traffic Control Center (CATCC) aboard USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN 69), and there sits Air Traffic Controller 2nd Class Moises Arreola, air operations supervisor, case three marshal and final approach coordinator. He speaks into his headset, instructing pilots and intently watching radar and glancing at the Integrated Launch and Recovery Television System (ILARTS) as he guides a jet to Ike’s flight deck.

Arreola is one out of 45 air traffic controllers aboard Ike, who work directly with pilots by guiding them through their approaches to the ship’s flight deck.

Aboard Ike since 2016 and recently qualified as case three marshal, Arreola has been recognized by Commander, Naval Air Forces Atlantic for executing complex marshalling procedures in restricted airspace.

“He’s a go-to guy,” said Air Traffic Controller 1st Class Claudia Conger, CATCC’s leading petty officer. “He needs little to no supervision when it comes to his work ethic. He’s really knowledgeable in air traffic control and in-ship qualifications as well.”

During flight deck certification, CATCC was in need of a case three marshal, who supervises the air traffic controllers as they guide aircraft in at night or low-visibility scenarios to the flight deck. The two case three marshals already qualified were needed elsewhere. In order to help Ike complete the mission, Arreola, who had yet to be fully qualified, stepped up to the plate.

“His vast knowledge of air traffic control and his quick learning ability of these complex air traffic control roles made him the best Sailor for the job,” said Conger.

Had no one been able to fill in the position of case three marshal, an air traffic controller from a different command would have been sent to Ike. Without a case three, Ike wouldn’t have been a full CATCC team. Without a full CATCC team, no flight ops. No flight ops, no flight deck certification.

“I got lucky,” said Arreola. “I came to Ike as an airman while it was deployed. Deployment was fast paced and there was constant flying. There was training every day, and it was just a really good pipeline for me.”

Arreola spent the six months remaining in Ike’s deployment getting qualifications, since he would be unable to acquire certain ones while Ike was undergoing its Planned Incremental Availability at Norfolk Naval Shipyard.

“When we went into the yards, I went to CATCC ‘C’ school,” said Arreola. “I went there, rocked that, and just started studying because I knew one day we were gonna go back out.”

Ensign Christopher Braham, the CATCC Watch Officer said Arreola is a vital part of CATCC operations on Ike. He was the primary marshal controller during Ike’s flight deck certification.

“Arreola is a hard-charging second class petty officer,” said Braham. “He’s always helping his fellow Sailors, and striving to better himself and the shop.”

Arreola’s next goal is to be CATCC supervisor qualified, which is the highest qualification an air traffic controller can achieve on an aircraft carrier.

Arreola will be with Ike through deployment and plans on making petty officer first class and starting a family.

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