Missile Defense Advocacy Alliance Announces 2024 New Jersey Warfighter Missile Defense Champions
21 June 2024
U.S. Navy base in Romania --
The Missile Defense Advocacy Alliance announced the 2024 New Jersey Warfighter Missile Defense Champions during its eighth annual New Jersey Reception of Champions in Camden, New Jersey, April 30. According to the Missile Defense Advocacy Alliance’s website, the award seeks to recognize those in the ballistic missile defense community who are making the world a safer place.
This year’s champions are Fire Controlman (Aegis) 1st Class Steven Pertubal, Cryptologic Technician (Technical) 1st Class Nathan Troyer, and Fire Controlman (Aegis) 1st Class Huy Nguyen.
Mr. Paul Mann, Missile Defense Agency Program Executive, Sea-based Weapon Systems & Program Director, Aegis Ballistic Missile Defense, spoke to the importance of integrated air and missile defense.
“The last eight months have proven extreme for the criticality of our mission,” said Mann. “Enemies really do intend to harm us, our partners and allies, and our way of life.”
Nguyen, a 2024 New Jersey Warfighter Missile Defense Champion assigned to Aegis Ashore Missile Defense System Romania, echoed the importance of having a defense system to protect the United States and its allies in today’s global climate.
Having people in these places to provide a shield to the global community is important in order to protect from those who want to use force to get what they want, said Nguyen.
According to Nguyen, any rate in the ballistic missile defense field can receive the New Jersey Warfighter Missile Defense Champion to include Operations Specialists, Cryptologic Technician (Technical), and Gunner’s Mates.
Throughout 2023, while deployed in support of U.S. Operation ATLANTIC SENTRY and North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) Operation PERSISTENT EFFORT, Nguyen led a team of 11 watch standers through 45 training exercises to ensure combat readiness of the U.S. European Command area of responsibility.
“We just had a really big upgrade to the system out in Romania,” said Nguyen. “We trained up a lot of our Sailors on ballistic missile defense and went to San Diego to test the integration of Poland and Romania and the whole defense architecture with the European platform.”
As a Fire Controlman, Nguyen deciphers missile launches to see where they’re getting launched from, the trajectory, and where they’re going to impact and relays that information to a tactical action officer (TAO) who decides if engagement is necessary. Ngyuen works on the Aegis fire control system including the radars, and command and control.
Nguyen acknowledged his leadership for recognizing his work ethic and nominating him for this award.
“I would love to give credit to my chain of command,” said Nguyen. “I just show up, and I get the work done. I don’t expect much else. It’s nice to have people that see you’re putting in effort and put you up for these kinds of nominations. It makes me want to do even more now.”
MDAA is a non-partisan organization which does not advocate a particular company, system or product. It is a non-profit organization which seeks to generate public support for the continued testing, development and deployment of missile defense systems to protect the United States and its allies and seeks to educate the general public with respect to missile defense issues.