New chief from Olongapo steps in at Whiting

By Louis Cooper <lcooper@pnj.com>

Whiting Field Naval Air Station said goodbye to a leader Friday who saw the base overcome the hurdles of two hurricanes and a hailstorm.

Capt. Enrique Sadsad took Capt. Joan Platz's place as Whiting Field's commanding officer in Whiting's recently dedicated Hall of Heroes. The ceremony also marked Platz's retirement from the Navy.

"I remember in flight school, we learned something about meteorology ? don't fly when the weather is bad," said Rear Adm. Mark S. Boensel, commander of the Navy Region Southeast. "But you can't take a base and run away. ... This base took a some pretty good hits here a couple of years ago, and Joan was right there leading the charge getting it back up and moving again."

Facing natural disasters is not something commanding officers such as Platz and Sadsad are necessarily trained to do, Boensel said.

"Joan knew and Rick knows how little preparation we give people to do this job," he said. "We give these folks exactly three weeks of school to learn everything there is to essentially be the mayor of a city, to learn everything you need to know about managing personnel ? not just personnel who wear uniforms, but civilian personnel."

Platz praised those who served under her at Whiting Field.

"Thank you for allowing me to be your commanding officer," she said. "We sent a lot of people into harm's way. When they reached out for sailors to volunteer to support the effort overseas fighting the war, Whiting Field people stepped forward."

Not only did Whiting personnel answer the call to arms, Platz said, they also accomplished tasks such as installing a new computer system.

"You've done your job, and you've done it every single day," she said. "The Whiting Field team has never taken their eye off the ball. They've kept the runways open, and the towers operating, and allowed our tenant ? Training Air Wing 5 ? to train the warriors of tomorrow."

Sadsad reported from chief of staff for the Commander of Maritime Air Naples, which is responsible for all NATO maritime patrol aircraft operations in southern Europe. He is also the first Naval flight officer to be selected as the commanding officer of Whiting Field.

"This occasion all started when I was growing up in a sleepy little town watching (military aircraft) fly over my house during the Vietnam conflict. (That) peaked my interest in military aviation," Sadsad said, who grew up in Olongapo City in the Philippines. "It has been a long and rewarding journey. ... I feel so very fortunate to this opportunity of a lifetime to be surrounded by dedicated and talented people."

Capt. Joan Platz, left, and her successor as commanding officer, Capt. Enrique Sadsad, end the change of command ceremony Friday morning with the ceremonial cutting of the cake.

Capt. Enrique Sadsad
-- He was born in Olongapo City, Philippines.

-- He entered the Navy in November 1977. He started his career as an aviation machinist's mate and qualified as a search and rescue Naval air crewman.

-- After earning a bachelor's degree in aviation management from Southern Illinois University, he was transferred to Aviation Officer Candidate School in July 1983. He was designated a Naval flight officer in December 1984. He also earned a master's degree in business organizational management from the University of La Verne.

-- He has served in several capacities at Navy bases around the world, including California, Hawaii, Iceland and Italy.

-- His personal awards include the Defense Meritorious Service Medal, two Meritorious Service Medals, four Navy Commendation Medals, the Navy Achievement Medal, the Good Conduct Medal, as well as various unit awards.