A 1996 Mount Si High School graduate and North Bend native is serving in the U.S. Navy aboard Naval Air Station Whidbey Island, the premier naval air installation in the Pacific Northwest region.

Chief Petty Officer Joseph Hudson is an aviation structural mechanic serving with Commander, Patrol and Reconnaissance Wing 10. A Navy aviation structural mechanic is responsible for maintaining the air conditioning and oxygen systems of the P-3C Orion and P-8A Poseidon aircraft.

“I like the challenge of troubleshooting the air conditioning discrepancies,” said Hudson. “As a chief, I also like being able to mentor and serve the guys that work for me.”

According to Navy officials, Wing 10 has continued to fly combat missions in direct support of the troops on the ground and delivered traditional maritime capabilities, real-time intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance.

Beginning in the 1960s, the P-3C Orion, a land-based, long-range anti-submarine warfare patrol aircraft, replaced the P-2V Neptune fleet. After 50 years of faithful service and the 50th anniversary of Maritime Patrol and Reconnaissance Force, the P-3C Orion is being phased out of the fleet and replaced by the P-8A Poseidon, according to Navy officials.

The P-8A is a modified Boeing airframe featuring a fully connected, state-of-the-art, open architecture mission system designed for long-range anti-submarine warfare; anti-surface warfare; and intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance missions, Navy officials explained.

“Patrol and Reconnaissance Wing 10 mans, trains, and equips P-3 and P-8 squadrons to deploy anywhere, anytime,” said Capt. Rob Patrick, Commodore of Patrol and Reconnaissance Wing 10 at Naval Air Station Whidbey Island.

“This is critically important as we are the eyes and the ears of our national defense, putting pressure on strategic locations around the world. Our sailors are the single biggest asymmetric advantage that allows us to succeed at our missions.”

Hudson is part of a crew striving to be the best Naval Aviation Wing in the United States, according to Navy officials. Their mission is to safely build and maintain a team of sailors capable of conducting prompt and sustained combat operations.

“This command has a culture of excellence to accomplish the task in the correct way, and in a timely manner,” Hudson said.

According to Navy officials, the Navy continues to meet milestone after milestone on this world-class mission and is providing an aircraft with superior capabilities to the men and women in uniform that will have a lasting legacy promoting a global maritime strategy.

“I think ultimately I’m here to serve my fellow countrymen,” Hudson added. “The benefits and life skills that this job can prepare you for later in life is tremendous. The things you learn here are going to translate to so many other things later in life.”