NAVAL AIR STATION PENSACOLA, Fla. – For the first time since 2019, the Center for Naval Aviation Technical Training held its annual in-person offsite event for CNATT domain leadership April 5-6.
 
Firm handshakes, hugs and smiles filled the conference room where the CNATT unit commanding officers and detachment officers in charge spent two days.  They sharpened their leadership skills and learned more about how the CNATT headquarters and directorate staffs, as well as other entities like legal and medical, can help them continue to provide highly-trained Sailors and Marines to the fleet.
 
Over the past few years, the COVID-19 pandemic severely limited travel and meetings of this nature, so with COVID transmission rates low and vaccinations abundantly available across the country, current CNATT leaders were able to get together in person for the first time as a group.
 
“It’s really been great to have these leaders here,” Capt. Vence Logan, CNATT commanding officer, said. “The feedback has been great, the presentations have been great.  The event came together very well.  It’s been a lot of fun over the past two days.”
 
A few CNATT domain leaders shared their thoughts on the event.
 
“This week’s workshop gave us the opportunity to develop, enhance, strengthen relationships with leadership, CNATT staff, and the other commanders,” Marine Lt. Col. Marc Blankenbicker, CNATT Unit New River commanding officer, said. “You can start relationships remotely, and they may be effective enough to get by.  It’s intangible and immeasurable, but what you gain from looking at your teammates in the eye is irreplaceable.”
 
Cmdr. David Sweet, CNATT Unit Whidbey Island commanding officer, agreed.
 
“I had a great time meeting my fellow commanding officers, officers in charge and executive officers in person,” Sweet said.  It’s good to know that we are not alone and are all working through the same issues. I look forward to making this a yearly, in-person event.”
 
CNATT leadership would like to thank all staff members who helped make the offsite event a success.