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Here's a great article I found at www.northwestnavigator.com: -- Nov. 6 was like any other day aboard USS John F. Kennedy. After more than four months in the Northern Arabian Gulf, it would be very easy to become complacent and take safety and professionalism for granted. Fortunately, AT1(AW) Andrew Laderer and the Scorpion team approach every day with renewed motivation and attention to detail. Scorpion 502 was taxiing to Catapult One for an afternoon launch in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. VAQ-132 flight deck personnel, including Laderer, kept a watchful eye during the launch to catch any malfunction before it could become a hazard to personnel or equipment. As 502 approached the catapult, Laderer saw what he thought was smoke coming from a panel on the port side of the upper fuselage. Steam from Catapult One obscured his view and made it impossible for him to confirm the smoke, but he immediately made the safe decision and called for 502 to be stopped and chocked so the smoke could be investigated. After the aircraft was secure, AE3 Joseph Bozinovich removed the suspicious panel and found scorched wires on the AC/DC Power Transfer Panel where an obvious electrical fire was spreading. Bozinovich immediately notified Flight Deck Control that the jet was down and the aircraft was turned over to the Plane Captain, chained, shut down and aircrew exited the aircraft. Within minutes of the incident, Cmdr. Randolph Pierson, Commanding Officer VAQ-132, awarded the Navy Achievement Medal to Laderer during an impromptu ceremony held in the Avionics Technician (AT) work center. Although not a formal awards quarters, most of his fellow Sailors attended as did the aircrew of Scorpion 502 who obviously owe a great debt of gratitude to the professionalism and dedication of Laderer and all Sailors like him. Young men and women such as Laderer ensure the EA-6Bs are launched safely and expeditiously in order to fulfill their mission requirements in the global war on terrorism. Laderer hails from Beaver Falls, Pa., and joined the U.S. Navy in January 1991. He received his enlisted training at Recruit Training Command, Great Lakes, IL. He attended “A” School in Memphis, and was then assigned to VAQ-130 from July of 1992 until November 1995. VAQ-129 was home to Laderer from January 1996 to November 1999 when he finally joined the Scorps in December 1999. Approaching 14 years of service in the Navy, Laderer has made five deployments, three with VAQ-132. Through his meticulous attention to detail and quick and assertive action, Laderer prevented what could have been a serious mishap with the possible loss of four aircrew and a multi-million dollar aircraft. The Scorpions greatly appreciate Laderer’s professionalism and his service to the United States Navy. http://www.northwestnavigator.com/index.php/navigator/regionalnews/sailor_gets_spot_navy_achievement_medal/