Volunteer qualifies for Project Emeritus 2,500 Hour Eagle Award Published Dec. 20, 2012 By 45th Space Wing Public Affairs PATRICK AFB, Fla. -- John England is the longest continuously serving Project Emeritus volunteer having started as a volunteer in 1991 (PE officially started in Aug 1990). He recently qualified for the Project Emeritus 2,500 hour Eagle award having surpassed that number of volunteer hours worked here for the 45th Space Wing. His assignment throughout that time has been to recruit new volunteers for Project Emeritus. "John's efforts have enabled us to continuously provide the volunteers necessary to assist Patrick Air Force Base in the attainment of its mission," said Sam Lauricella, Project Emeritus director for the 45th Space Wing. "Thanks again, John for all your assistance." he said. John began his 24-year military career when he was accepted for the Naval Aviation College Program in 1946 while enrolled at Bowling Green State University. He retired as a U.S. Navy Commander. In 1948 he was ordered to Pensacola for Naval Flight Training where, two years later, he won his "Wings of Gold' and was commissioned an ensign. Following carrier qualification on the USS Cabot flying F9F Bearcats, John went on to fly F4U Corsairs aboard the USS FDR and the USS Wasp with deployments to the Caribbean and Mediterranean. John transferred to the Ready Reserve in 1952 and graduated from New York University in 1955 with a Bachelor of Mechanical Engineering degree. He was then employed by Grumman Aerospace Corp for 34 years as a Flight Test Instrumentation Engineer and Manager. He retired from Naval Service in 1970 after 18 years flying the F9F Cougar, the FJ3 Fury and the A4C Skyhawk with carrier landings on the USS Lexington.