[September 08, 2009] Two York natives guide ship Tweet Sep 08, 2009 (York Daily Record - McClatchy-Tribune Information Services via COMTEX) -- As he prepared to make things official, Capt. Chip Miller paused to make sure everyone present understood his admiration for Travis Dawson. How many people here, Miller asked, have ever been promoted below zone, before U.S. Navy guidelines suggest they should? Miller, a York Suburban graduate, looked around and saw only one hand raised, that of Dawson, who graduated from West York Area High School. His point made, Miller finished the Sept. 1 ceremony promoting Dawson, 37, to lieutenant commander. The two York County natives have had a major impact on the Navy's newest aircraft carrier, the USS George H.W. Bush. Miller took command of the ship in February. Lt. Cmdr. Dawson, the ship's Combat Systems Information Officer, has been there from the beginning, joining the crew nearly two years ago, when the Bush was a series of welded steel structures at the Northrop Grumman shipyard in Newport News, Va. "You could make out that it was going to be a Navy ship," Dawson said, "but it didn't have any definition." He job was to oversee installing the ship's communication and computer systems, no small task considering the Bush will one day support more than 5,500 sailors. Since joining the Navy in 1989, Dawson has witnessed how technology has transformed how the Navy operates. "When I was aboard (the USS John F. Kennedy) in '89 and '90, there were no desktop computers, there was no e-mail, you couldn't readily make a phone call without going to the ham radio operators," Dawson said. "Now, there's a phone at every desk and I can send an e-mail in a matter of minutes." Dawson been on the edge of that transformation, learning to secure networks and push the boundaries of how technology can help the Navy at war. He's served under the Joint Chiefs of Staff and several high-priority postings. As the Bush prepares for its first deployment in early 2011, Miller said Dawson's work and knowledge has been invaluable. Dawson won't be onboard when the Bush sails into the open sea. In December, he is scheduled to transfer to the Naval Network Warfare Command, which integrates the Navy's intelligence and communications systems. But his work on the ship will influence its life for the next 50 years. [email protected]; 771-2062 ABOUT LT. CMDR. TRAVIS W. DAWSON -- Age: 37 --- Family: Wife, Robyn Dawson; son Trevor Dawson, age 7. --- Education: Graduated West York Area High School in 1989. Since enlisting, he has earned a bachelors degree in Information Systems Management and a Masters degree in information assurance, both from the University of Maryland. He also has earned several technical certifications. --- Accomplishments: The 1998 International Armed Forces Communications and Electronics Association Distinguished Member of the Year; Tactical Action Officer of the Year in 2004; AFCEA Copernicus Award recipient in 2005; the Department of the Navy Chief Information Officer IM/IT Excellence Award in 2006. SHIP UPDATE The Navy's newest aircraft carrier, the USS George H.W. Bush, is getting closer to its first deployment. The ship, under the command of York Suburban graduate Capt. Chip Miller, sailed into the Atlantic in February for a month of test maneuvers, called shakedowns. It's now back at the Northrop Grumman Shipyard in Newport News, Va., for post-construction modification. Miller took command of the ship in January, a month after it was commissioned. After beginning his career as a fighter pilot, Miller said he enjoys his weekly flights with the ship's air wing. Also of interest - In addition to Chip Miller, York has produced its share of high-ranking naval officers. Read more at York Town Square. To see more of the York Daily Record, or to subscribe to the newspaper, go to http://www.ydr.com. Copyright (c) 2009, York Daily Record, Pa. Distributed by McClatchy-Tribune Information Services. For reprints, email [email protected], call 800-374-7985 or 847-635-6550, send a fax to 847-635-6968, or write to The Permissions Group Inc., 1247 Milwaukee Ave., Suite 303, Glenview, IL 60025, USA. [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ]