An official website of the United States government
A .mil website belongs to an official U.S. Department of Defense organization in the United States.
A lock (lock ) or https:// means you’ve safely connected to the .mil website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.

Article Display

NAVAIR Lakehurst passes the plank to longest length of service employee

  • Published
  • By Elyse Fetherman
  • NAVAIR Public Affairs
JOINT BASE MCGUIRE-DIX-LAKEHURST, N.J. --  On April 2, NAVAIR Lakehurst employees gathered at the Naval Air Warfare Center Aircraft Division (NAWCAD) at Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, N.J., for a "passing of the plank" ceremony.

The Naval Air Engineering Center (NAEC) Honorary Plank is awarded to the longest length of service employee of NAVAIR Lakehurst's Support Equipment and Aircraft Launch and Recovery Equipment Department (AIR 4.8). The plank was passed from the previous honorary plank holder and now retired, Carmen Bentivegna, to the newest honorary plank holder, Vince Strollo.

During the ceremony, AIR 4.8 Director, Kathy Donnelly, thanked Bentivegna and Strollo for their support and service, and shared her views of NAVAIR Lakehurst.

"Here at Lakehurst, it really is a family type of environment," said Donnelly who asked Bentivegna to pass the plank onto Strollo.

Upon receiving the plank from Bentivegna, Strollo said, "It is a pleasure and still a pleasure to be here working with the fleet and my family."

Both Bentivegna and Strollo have 48 years of service. Only four months separate the length of service between Bentivegna and Strollo.

Bentivegna began his career with NAVAIR in 1966 as an apprentice at the NAEC in Philadelphia. Bentivegna worked in Philadelphia for eight-and-a-half years, and in 1975 came to the relocated NAEC in Lakehurst. Throughout his 48-year career with NAVAIR, Bentivegna served in several different roles such as journeyman mechanic, materials specialist, program manager, electronics technician and his most recent role prior to retirement, industrial specialist with the Prototyping and Manufacturing Division at NAWCAD Lakehurst.

When asked for his favorite NAVAIR memories Bentivegna replied, "Too many."
"I learned a lot. I enjoyed my stay here. I'm sorry to leave," he said.

Strollo started his NAVAIR career in 1966 in the Public Works unit of the NAEC in Philadelphia as a limited journeyman in the electrical/electronics field. He then advanced to first class journeyman where his primary function was electronics troubleshooting. Strollo was reassigned to the industrial facilities where he worked on computer numerical control tools, numerical control tools and sophisticated electronics equipment. He then relocated to Lakehurst where he continued this work. He also worked in supervisory, analytical and engineering roles at Lakehurst. Currently, Strollo works as an electronics engineering technician and the building manager of the Visual Landing Aids laboratory.

"My job is exciting and very fulfilling for me," said Strollo. "I always felt that the thing that kept me here was the bond -- the strong family type of environment."

Strollo is the fourth recipient of the plank. John E. Price, Perry DiGiovanniantonio and Bentivegna were the previous honorary plank holders.