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USS Midway Museum

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Beginning its ninth consecutive year of partnership with the USS Midway Museum, Booz Allen Hamilton will continue to focus its support on Midway’s education programs in 2023, including offering scholarships for Title I schools to participate in the museum’s STEM education programs and development of “maker space” project kits for STEM students.

With Booz Allen’s support, Midway has begun developing a series of project kits for students attending Midway electricity programs. The kits will be a follow-up lesson activity to students’ onboard experience, providing components and instructions students can keep and use to build electrical circuits reinforcing the STEM principles learned during their time on the ship.

Also with Booz Allen’s support, and in an effort to leverage the rich knowledge base of Booz Allen employees, Midway is developing a series of volunteer opportunities designed to connect students with STEM professionals who demonstrate the application of these principles in their daily work lives, connecting what the students are learning to potential career opportunities. 

 Booz Allen’s commitment this year will underwrite scholarships for roughly 750 San Diego students from Title I schools and classrooms in underserved communities who would like to participate in STEM education field trip experiences.

“Booz Allen is proud to support the Midway’s STEM programs and to make those impactful educational experiences accessible to students in Title I schools,” said Jennie Brooks, executive vice president at Booz Allen Hamilton. “Programs such as the Midway’s No Child Left Ashore scholarship program and Booz Allen Foundation grants and initiatives make unique and inspiring STEM programs accessible to a broader population of San Diego students. We are thrilled to support Midway’s new STEM kits so that students will continue to be engaged and learning even after they’ve disembarked. My Booz Allen colleagues look forward to amplifying the impact of these programs through mentorship with the students and sharing their experiences, expertise, and love for STEM.”

Booz Allen’s partnership with Midway has always been about developing and supporting educational opportunities and strengthening Midway’s impact in the community. In nine years of partnership Booz Allen has contributed more than half a million dollars and innovative programming to support Midway’s education programs. 

The relationship between Booz Allen and Midway is one of shared values and commitment to service. Booz Allen Hamilton was founded by a veteran, has continuously supported the military since working with the Department of Defense in 1940, and nearly one-third of the firm’s employees are military-connected, including veterans, National Guard members, reservists, and their spouses. 

About Booz Allen 

For more than 100 years, military, government, and business leaders have turned to Booz Allen Hamilton to solve their most complex problems. As a consulting firm with experts in analytics, digital solutions, engineering, and cyber, we help organizations transform. We are a key partner on some of the most innovative programs for governments worldwide and trusted by their most sensitive agencies. We work shoulder-to-shoulder with clients, using a mission-first approach to choose the right strategy and technology to help them realize their vision.

Bank of America has expanded its support for USS Midway Museum programs beyond its sponsorship of Navy Pier marketing programs to include exclusive presenting sponsorship of Midway’s Legacy Week, and Lieutenant Sponsorship of the Midway American Patriot Award Gala.

A long-time sponsor of Midway programs, Bank of America currently underwrites the design and production of banners celebrating Midway, naval aviation, and all those who serve that adorn the light poles on Navy Pier. New banners hanging now spotlight female aviators as we commemorate the 50th anniversary of the women in naval aviation. Bank of America will also sponsor Legacy Week, Midway’s Memorial Day weekend celebration, and support Midway’s No Child Left Ashore STEM education scholarship fund through Lieutenant Sponsorship of the Gala.

“Our longtime partnership with the USS Midway Museum’s programs is a proud extension of the bank’s more than 100 years of serving veterans and active-duty service members, and 80 years of financing San Diego’s defense and aerospace industries,” said Rick Bregman, president of Bank of America San Diego. “San Diego is uniquely prosperous due in large part to its military presence and history, and the Midway brings this rich history to life for the community.”

Bank of America sponsored parking lot banner

Bank of America supports the military community in numerous ways, including hiring more than 15,000 service members in less than ten years to help address the unique challenges military personnel face in finding civilian employment after service. Today, 15 percent of all Bank of America’s newly hired employees in North America are veterans. Providing tailored benefits to support the evolving needs of active duty, reservists, and military spouse employees, Bank of America continuously ranks as a top employer for military. 

In addition to this milestone, Bank of America helps the transition from military to civilian life by supporting a variety of veteran nonprofit organizations, offering free financial education tailored for the unique needs and resources of active-duty service members and veterans, and has donated more than 2,600 homes to veterans. 

Honoring its commitment to connect people to what matters most through lending, investing and giving, Bank of America has become an ardent supporter of Midway education, our San Diego community, and the men and women of the U.S. Armed Forces and their families.

An Airgle air purification system on Midway’s fo’c’sle.

The USS Midway Museum received a very welcomed gift from the Airgle Corporation earlier this year – six medical-grade Airgle air purification systems, specifically designed to scrub the air clean of a wide range of particulate, molecular and microbial air pollutants, which will in turn promote healthier indoor air quality.

“Our guests are our first priority,” said Len Santiago, Midway’s chief engineer. “The donation of these units helps safeguard guests by purifying the air in some of Midway’s most popular below decks spaces.”

“Airgle Corp is incredibly honored to be partnering with the USS Midway Museum in their indoor clean air initiative,” said Dr. Tyler Orehek, president of corporate for Airgle Corporation. “Since 1999, Airgle has been an industry leader with worldwide distribution of medical-grade, air purification systems, both stand-alone and HVAC compatible. Our air purification solutions are engineered to combat airborne pathogens, including COVID (CoV-2), ultra-fine particulates and VOCs in all indoor settings. Airgle systems are the air purifiers of choice among hospitals, medical and dental clinics, schools, museums, hotels and restaurants.”

After a three-year hiatus, due in large part to the COVID pandemic, the USS Midway Museum is breathing new life into the San Diego Veterans Day Parade. The museum has assumed the lead of the parade’s newly formed planning group that consists of a professional parade producer along with representatives from Midway, the Navy and Marine Corps, the city of San Diego and various veterans support organizations.

“We’re very excited to bring back this important civic event to San Diego,” said Craig Fisher, Midway’s partnership marketing director. “With more than a quarter million veterans living in San Diego County, it’s imperative that we not only have a parade to salute those who have worn the uniform of our nation, but that we make it the best Veterans Day Parade on the West Coast.”

The parade will kick off at 11 a.m. on Nov. 12 with entrants marching along a Harbor Drive route that runs from the County Administration Center building to the Pacific Highway.

“I’m honored to be part of the Veteran’s Day Parade,” said parade producer Laura Ozeck, who also produces the annual Holiday Bowl Parade each December. “Our veterans deserve a first-class tribute to celebrate their service and sacrifice, and I’m delighted to help bring this parade to life.”

Over the past 20 years, the USS Midway Museum has not only become a symbolic icon for San Diego, but it has evolved into an important community asset. Whether conducting its annual Memorial Day ceremony, hosting “Top Gun” movie night, or providing the Navy SEALs a platform for critical training, the museum is now part of the fabric of the city.

Continuing this two-decade tradition, Midway recently entered into a partnership with the University of California at San Diego’s (UCSD) Division of Extended Studies to incorporate an added sense of authenticity and realism to a safety training course.

Through UCSD’s extended studies program, the Office of Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) is now able to offer training workshops on board Midway. The advantage of hosting classes on Midway is that it offers students enrolled in OSHA’s Training Institute Education Center, the opportunity to learn on a full-scale working model of the kinds of ships they’ll be working on in and around in the shipyards.

“Hosting classes on the Midway provides a better visual of the concepts we’re talking about,” said Barton Deem, one the course’s maritime instructors. “When we talk about a confined space, we can go to a confined space to see it for ourselves. When we talk about lockout and tagout, we can go to the power panel and look at the breakers aboard the ship so the students know exactly what it means. The Midway is an excellent field lab for our course material.”

This is another excellent example of how Midway is more than just a classroom, but a complete hands-on training facility.

“Midway is an outstanding educational facility that not only supports school children, but also working professionals in the maritime industry,” said Len Santiago, Midway’s chief engineer. “By partnering with the UCSD’s extended studies staff, we are helping these critical professionals in many different ways.”

San Diego was the center of the world’s attention in mid-March when President Joe Biden met with the British and Australian prime ministers to announce a phased plan for Australia to acquire conventionally armed, nuclear-powered submarines.

While in town for the trilateral meeting, Rishi Sunak, the U.K. prime minister, was interviewed by NBC Nightly News anchor, Lester Holt, on the USS Midway Museum’s flight deck. 

“I was privileged to visit the Midway during my first trip to the United States as prime minister of the United Kingdom,” said Rishi. “The special relationship between the U.K. and the U.S. is built on decades of friendship, as well as our proud history in standing shoulder-to-shoulder together in times of global uncertainty.”

More than 10 million viewers watched the interview on Midway, which was aired on NBC’s TODAY morning news program, as well as on its Nightly News broadcast.

“Standing on board the Midway was an important reminder of how our armed forces have proudly defended peace and security together, and will continue to do so for generations to come, said Rishi.”

USS Midway Museum volunteers continue to be the life’s blood of the ship. They are often the first encounter museum guests have once they come on board, and the last one as they are going ashore. Comments by guests on Tripadvisor repeatedly praise Midway volunteers as the reason behind their 5-star visit.

“The ship is manned by volunteers who simply love their jobs and that makes the entire experience so enjoyable,” said Midway visitor Bob Kingman.

Bravo Zulu to our Volunteers of the Month for the first quarter of 2023. 

Dianne Wilkie, Safety – January 2023

Dianne Wilkie has been a member of Midway’s safety and security team since 2004 and has nearly 6,000 volunteer hours. She thoroughly enjoys being in a military environment and interacting with the guests to give them a better understanding of what it was like to serve on an aircraft carrier.

A retired U.S. Army vocational nurse whose family has roots in the military dating back to the Spanish American War, Dianne has proved invaluable. Dianne can be seen year-round standing on the pier in the early morning hours directing guests attending military events. In addition to her work as an event safety, Dianne has undertaken the daunting task of issuing updated 2023 team parking permits. After issuing the permits, Dianne often comes back to the safety office to ensure all the electronic files are updated.

“Dianne is a highly dedicated and motivated safety team member,” said Dominick Boccia, Midway director of security. “Her dedication and hard work are a great asset to the museum.”

This work ethic is not unusual for Dianne, who spent nearly 15 years as a registered nurse in the postpartum ward at Naval Medical Center San Diego following her retirement from the Army.

Cole Rahn, Ship Restoration – February 2023

Cole Rahn is a relative newcomer to Midway, having started with the ship restoration team in 2019. However, he hit the deck running. Before the end of his first year on board, he also joined the museum’s outreach team. 

Possessing tremendous enthusiasm for military history, coupled with experience in restoring vintage bicycles and vehicles, makes Cole a perfect fit for the museum’s ship restoration team. 

Having just celebrated his 24th birthday, the restoration team considers Cole their true “youngster” working on museum projects ranging from Ready Room 8 refurbishment to basic equipment. He’s also first in line to tackle special projects that support education and outreach programs or engineering contractors. He has already amassed nearly 1,000 volunteer hours.

“Cole is a dedicated young man who puts his heart, soul and hands into any project he is given or what he finds needs to get done,” said Len Santiago, Midway’s chief engineer. “He represents the best of the best of our young adult volunteers today.”

Cole is pursuing a career in aircraft maintenance and technology.

Matt Doidge, Docent and IT – March 2023

Matt Doidge wears two volunteer hats on Midway. Since 2016, he has contributed more than 2,300 hours to both the docent team and the IT department.

He not only assists with the docent continuing education and docent training programs by ensuring the Zoom and presentation equipment is ready for the session, but he also solicits information on docent staffing and then volunteers on the days we are short-staffed. 

“Matt has been an outstanding docent,” said Jim Reily, Midway’s director of docents. “He is always willing to step up to the plate to help whenever we need it.”

 Matt has also made significant contributions to the museum’s IT department. With his expertise, he performed a risk analysis that led to the upgrade of the ship’s network. Using similar techniques, he also helped identify other infrastructure shortcomings, which are currently being addressed. 

“Thanks to skilled volunteers like Matt, our department can deliver top-notch solutions to stakeholders and beyond,” said Shawn Granen, the museum’s IT director. “I am extremely thankful to have Matt as part of our team.”

For those interested in becoming a USS Midway Museum volunteer, more information along with the volunteer application can be found www.midway.org/give-join/volunteers

World War II was in its final year when New York native Herb Alberg was finally old enough to enlist. Joining the Navy, he started his active duty service in December 1944. Following basic training and follow-on instruction, Herb received orders to the Navy’s newest, largest and most advanced aircraft carrier – the USS Midway (CV-41).

Destined for the Pacific Theater to support the pending invasion of the Japanese Islands, Herb and his fellow Midway sailors prepared the carrier for its commissioning and continuing the fight. However, by the summer of 1945, with the dropping of the atomic bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki, the war came to an abrupt end. The Japanese signed the official documents of surrender eight days before Midway joined the fleet.

“I was on the ship when she was commissioned on Sept. 10, 1945,” said Herb, who recently celebrated his 96th birthday. “It was just after the war was over, so we never went to the Pacific. We stayed on the East Coast and operated as part of the Atlantic Fleet.”

Herb Alberg, a radarman, was member of the USS Midway’s original crew in 1945.
Plankowner Herb Alberg meets Midway docent director, Jim Reily, during his first visit back to the ship after 77 years.

Trained as a radarman, Herb’s experience on Midway was focused mainly on training and “breaking in” the Navy’s newest warship. He was even on board when Midway was tasked to participate in Operation Frostbite, a test voyage in early 1946 into subarctic conditions in Canadian waters of the North Atlantic to evaluate the feasibility of conducting carrier flight operations in extreme cold.

A few months later, with the American armed forces drawing down following the war, Herb was discharged after serving only a year and a half.

“I served for the duration of the war, plus,” said Herb. “Most times, you enlist in the Navy for two years or four years, but that’s the way it was back then. Duration plus meant – whenever they let you go. By June 1946, they let me go.”

Herb left Midway that summer and never saw the ship again. That all changed in early 2023, when, after nearly 77 years, he once again walked the deck of the ship where he served as one of its original crewmembers.

Known as a plankowner, Herb was excited about finally coming back to where his service in the fleet started and ended.

“It was an opportunity,” said Herb, who visited Midway with several family members. “If I had a bucket list, this would have been on the bucket list. I don’t know how many more years I’ve got left, so that’s why I really made the trip with my family so that they can remember.”

Although Midway was his home for nearly a year, Herb was still impressed with the massive size of the carrier.

“There were so many changes on the ship,” said Herb, who made the trip to San Diego from his home on New York’s Long Island. “Seeing how large the ship really is. I didn’t take notice because I was on her every day. I sailed on her. I was really looking forward to coming back to see her again.”

A Navy brat, Joellen Drag Oslund lived all over the world growing up. A few years here and there – Illinois, Maryland, Puerto Rico and the Philippines – was an accepted way of life as a kid. Finally, after settling down in California’s Castro Valley as a teenager, she decided to attend college close to home at Cal State Hayward graduating in 1972 with a degree in political science. 

Although undecided coming out of university, she knew she wanted her career to be something out of the ordinary. One day, a friend who was in the Naval Reserves showed her a naval message and said, “I think you should go for this.”

“Chief of Naval Operations, Elmo Zumwalt, had opened the Navy flight training program to women just as I was graduating from college,” remembered Joellen. “I realized it was the something different that I longed for.”

Book author, Beverly Weintraub, and retired Navy Capt. Joellen Oslund, during a book signing event on Midway’s hangar deck.

In June 1973, Joellen entered Navy flight school. A trailblazer for women in military aviation was born.

Joellen’s story is chronicled in the recently released book “Wings of Gold: The Story of the First Women Naval Aviators.” Authored by Beverly Weintraub, a Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist, the book tells the true accounts of six extraordinary women who made history in a naval aviation experiment in the early 1970s.

Joellen and Beverly conducted a book signing on the hangar deck of the USS Midway Museum sharing the tale of the challenges and achievements of the pioneering women who fought to break through the barriers of a historically male-dominated profession.

“There are gaps in the historical record that need to be filled, not only to give people the recognition they deserve, but because important lessons from the past are too easily forgotten,” said Beverly, who is also a pilot. “This is especially true when the story involves women.”

According to Beverly, the debate of whether women have the upper-body strength, temperament and mental toughness to fly military aircraft was answered by the more than 1,000 female pilots recruited by the Army Air Corps to fly non-combat operational, test and support missions during World War II. For Joellen and her five female groundbreaking classmates, they had to confront those same doubts and answer those same questions all over again.

“It is so gratifying to know that the efforts of the first six of us really has made a difference for women in the Navy,” said Joellen, who became the first women to complete the Navy’s helicopter flight training program and the fourth women to get her Navy wings in April 1974. “I’m pretty sure we far exceeded the expectations of most Navy leaders of the time, and I’m very proud of that. As a group and individually, we did very well in every aircraft and environment in which we found ourselves.”

Joellen, who was presented her wings from her father, retired Navy Cmdr. Theodore Drag, went on to fly CH-46 Sea Knight helicopters in her first fleet assignment with Helicopter Combat Support Squadron 3 (HC-3) in San Diego. However, after reporting to the squadron, she found that existing federal legislation limited Navy women to only shore-duty billets. Thus, Joellen was unable to land her helicopter on Navy ships at sea. This restriction would not only hamper her professional development as a pilot, but also hinder her opportunities for promotion.

The book “Wings of Gold: The Story of the First Women Aviators” chronicles the experiences of the first six women Navy pilots.

In 1977, Joellen joined a class-action lawsuit against the Navy, Owens v. Brown, that aimed to overturn Section 6015 of Title 10 that kept women in the Navy from serving and operating on ships. The following year, the District Court in Washington, D.C. ruled in favor of Joellen and the other women in the lawsuit and in the fall of 1978, women were finally allowed to be assigned to shipboard billets.

“As soon as I got to my first operational duty assignment, I realized that 10 USC Sec 6015 was going to be an insurmountable barrier to any hopes of a normal career path,” said Joellen, who would later marry Dwyane Oslund, also a Navy helicopter pilot. “There was never any question in my mind that it needed to be challenged. I was gratified that we prevailed and the law was found to be unconstitutional. But in the end, though, the ruling was just the first battle in a long series of battles that only truly ended in 1993 with its complete repeal.”

Beverly’s book not only recounts Joellen’s journey, but the accomplishments of each of the first six women naval aviators.

Retired Navy Capt. Joellen Drag Oslund was the U.S. Navy’s first woman helicopter pilot earning her wings of gold in 1974.

“One thing that blows me away is how humble they are about their accomplishments,” said Beverly. “They were, among other things, the first woman to solo a tactical jet, the first female Hurricane Hunter, the first woman to command an aviation squadron, the first military pilot mom and a plaintiff in a federal lawsuit challenging the combat exclusion.”

Joellen transitioned to the Naval Reserve in 1979 and was assigned to Helicopter Combat Support Squadron 9 (HC-9) where she became the first combat search and rescue helicopter aircraft commander. In 2017, she was inducted into the Women in Aviation International Pioneer Hall of Fame.

“I didn’t really realize at the time that everything I did was a first,” said Joellen, who rose to the rank of captain before retiring from the Navy in 1998. “To me it was just the logical progression of qualifications that every pilot, woman or man, had to accomplish to compete for promotion. I feel so very honored to have helped pave the way for today’s women and the amazing opportunities and experiences they can now enjoy.”