Holley native receives Meritorious Service Medal for leadership in Navy
Travis D. Carpenter, a Holley native and the son of Skip and Cindy Carpenter, recently received a Meritorious Service Medal for his leadership in the U.S. Navy.
Carpenter, a commander, received the medal for his service as Integrated Air and Missile Defense Cell Lead and Plans and Projects Department Head on the staff of Commander, U.S. Fleet Forces Command from June 2013 to November 2017.
Through dedication and a comprehensive understanding of the Integrated Air and Missile Defense, Commander Carpenter provided expert advice and planning support to enable fleet operations, according to a citation from R.P. Breckenridge, Vice Admiral of the U.S. Navy.
“He developed an extensive concept of employment for layered ballistic missile defense to facilitate support to U.S. Sixth Fleet ships operating in the Eastern Mediterranean area of operations,” the vice admiral said. “His superb performance as Lead Integrated Air and Missile Defense Planner during Exercises VIGILANT SHIELD 2015, 2016 and 2018, enabled full operational certification of the Maritime Operations Center for homeland defense missions.”
In addition, Breckenridge said Carpenter developed a two-day training program in partnership with the Missile Defense Agency and facilitated a three-day War Fighter Prep 2017 symposium as recurrent training for 165 staff personnel.
Displaying managerial acumen, he streamlined coordination of training activities, resulting in Air Operations Federation members providing 3,860 days of direct operational support.
“Commander Carpenter’s distinctive accomplishments and selfless devotion to duty reflected great credit upon himself and upheld the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service,” Breckenridge wrote in the citation for Carpenter.
