Paloma Mohn: Retirement July 29, 1993 LCdr. Michael A. Mohn

Twenty-two year career ends for LCdr. Mohn

By Barry McDonald
Editor

When he took the lectern at his retirement ceremony July 29, LCdr. Michael A. Mohn told a little story about how he first heard of China Lake. When he was a fairly new enlisted man attending a school in the eastern part of the country, during a discussion, one of his fellow students asked what it meant to be "relieved for cause." The instructor said, "It means you get sent to China Lake to hand out tennis racquets." He admitted that back east they didn't know a lot about what went on at China Lake.

Before giving Mohn the floor, Capt. Roger Hull, NAWCWPNS Vice Commander, pointed out that the lieutenant commander was the only surface warfare officer aboard NAWS, China Lake. But he didn't start out that way. Hull noted Mohn enlisted in 1967 as an aviation recruit. "At least he started out right," the vice commander joked.

But then at three months into the Navy his career took a turn and he ended up, two years of training and schools later, as a qualified nuclear power plant electrical operator. He later was qualified as an enlisted submarine warfare specialist.

Hull explained that in 1974 Mohn was accepted into the Navy Enlisted Scientific Education Program and he earned a bachelor's degree in electrical engineering from the University of New Mexico. Then, after attending the Surface Warfare Officer Basic Course, while serving as main propulsion assistant aboard USS Rathburne, he qualified as a surface warfare officer.

Mohn said his retirement was a part of the "shake out in the Department of Defense." He added that this is a time of global changes. "I never thought I would see Russia dissolve," he said. "And I saw the Wall come down. Being asked to leave the Navy is a small price to pay to see these things happen."

He said he was fortunate to have his last tour be at China Lake, that he'd gained an appreciation for what it takes to get weapons into the fleet. His last two years at China Lake he served as deputy director of the Standard Missile Project Office.

Reflecting on his career, he said when he went from being an enlisted technician to becoming a manager or leader as an officer, he learned what the Navy was.

"All of the ships and planes and missiles and other weapons are not what the Navy is," he said. "They are just lumps of different types of material, and they are nothing without the people who design, build, maintain and operate them. The people make up the Navy."

Schooling and taking advantage of the opportunities dominated Mohn's career, which spanned a large part of what the Navy has to offer. He went from being a qualified nuke technician who made five Polaris deterrent patrols in the submarine USS Mariano G. Vallejo to operations officer of Destroyer Squadron 35, wherein he planned the largest multi-warfare exercise that had ever been done with ships homeported in Pearl Harbor and made two deployments aboard USS New Jersey, the last to the Persian Gulf. His career also saw him earn a sub-specialty in Operational Oceanography from the Naval Postgraduate School at Monterey.

According to his self-penned "career highlights," the hardest two years of his career were when he served as combat systems officer of the USS Ingersol, during the overhaul of the ship preparing it for deployment. He oversaw installation of two new weapons systems and went through every certification and at-sea exercise required.

Besides his duties with the Standard Missile office at China Lake he also served as project officer to the Warfare Analysis Office, the Advanced Technology Exploitation Office, NATO Anti-Air Warfare System Project and the Sparrow Missile Project.

In all Mohn saw duty at 22 different ports, schools or duty stations during his 22-year career. His awards include the Navy Commendation Medal, Navy Achievement Medal, Meritorious Unit Commendation with a bronze star and several other medals and awards.

In summarizing his career, he wrote, "...never the same job twice, lots of training and educational opportunities and an incredible cast of people over the years have made me wonder how it all happened. I lived from day to day and week to week and never looked back. My career was very hard on my family, as most Navy careers are, and I am very happy with the close relationships I have with my son, Mike Jr., (23), and daughter, Michelle (20). I am also very grateful to end my Navy career with my best friend, my wife Brenda."

The Mohns were married in June of 1992 after meeting at China Lake. She is an environmental protection specialist in the Environmental Projects Office. They plan on staying in Ridgecrest for the time being.

Photo Caption:
ENDING his Navy career, LCdr. Michael A. Mohn accepts the traditional flag box from NAWCWPNS Vice Commander, Capt. Roger Hull. (Photo by Terry Pascarella)