THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Wednesday, March 1, 1995 TAG: 9503010474
SECTION: FRONT PAGE: A7 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY BILL REED, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: VIRGINIA BEACH LENGTH: Medium: 81 lines
Oceana has room, good weather and the Atlantic Fleet carriers nearby in Norfolk, but location doesn't explain why the naval air station was tapped for expansion in a time of military downsizing, a senior worker says.
``What got us there was hard work,'' said Troy Curnutte, 43, who has worked half his life at Oceana, in engineering and maintenance. Now, he's head of the division. ``It's my feeling we do it better here and more efficient than any other naval facility.''
Patty Dewey, a seven-year Oceana employee, agrees.
``You talk to anybody here and I'm certain none of us would go off this base, even for a higher (pay) grade to go into Norfolk,'' she said. ``We have a boss who likes to see us move up, if it can be done. You don't get that kind of personalized attention on the big bases.''
Curnutte and Dewey grew up in Hampton Roads, and, like many of Oceana's 1,700 civilian employees, burrowed into the suburbs as homeowners, parents and breadwinners in two-income families. Community involvement comes complete with barbecues, PTA meetings and obligatory attendance at horse shows, softball and lacrosse games.
The Pentagon's announcement Tuesday that it is concentrating forces at Oceana, just months after the base's future appeared bleak, means that pattern of life can continue for Oceana's workers.
Dewey lives in Virginia Beach's Great Neck with her husband, Bill, also a Navy civilian employee, and their 13-year-old son, Casey. She has an 18-year-old daughter, Megan, a freshman at the University of North Carolina at Wilmington.
``This is an adventure, this out-of-state tuition business,'' Dewey said. ``I need 43 jobs for them.''
For Curnutte, the decision moves him toward his dream of walking out to pasture through the same base gates he entered at 22.
Most of the time since then, Curnette says he has risen early each weekday morning at his home in Chesapeake's Western Branch and driven to work 25 miles through tunnels and interstates with friend Charlie Fink from Portsmouth.
The two are among the first civil service apprentices hired at the base, in the early '70s. Curnette has served under 12 base commanders and will see more before he retires in another 11 years.
Curnutte is the son of a former Air Force fighter pilot who flew combat missions in Vietnam and settled his family in Portsmouth during the late '60s.
``I grew up as a military brat,'' he said. ``My dad was a retired fighter pilot - he spent 27 years in the Air Force. That's where my love of planes comes from.''
He added, ``Everybody feels they are vital to what goes on at the base, and I honestly believe that. Ask anyone in the shop area in my division and they'll tell you the same thing. It really is like one great big Oceana family.''
Curnutte's wife, Susan, has worked as a librarian's assistant at Waters Junior High School in Portsmouth for the past five years. Her salary is a welcome addition to the family bank account.
``I can remember, years ago when I was in the Air Force and my wife didn't work,'' said Curnutte. ``I can honestly say I was better off. I think the American way of life is quite demanding nowadays.''
Adding to his bills are expenses for the horse he bought for daughter Nicole.
Daughter Jennifer, 16, was the starting pitcher on the undefeated Western Branch junior varsity softball team last year, and her parents rooted at every game.
His new lease on the suburban life in Hampton Roads isn't so secure that Curnutte is breaking out the champagne. The Defense Base Closure and Realignment Commission must sign off on the recommendations, he says, adding that it was BRAC that forced the Pentagon to consider closing Oceana in 1993.
But in a typical burst of optimism, he added, ``It usually follows 85 percent of the Pentagon's decisions.'' ILLUSTRATION: Photo
Troy Curnutte, one of the first civil service apprentices at Oceana,
dreams of spending his entire working life there.
KEYWORDS: BASE CLOSINGS MILITARY BASES by CNB