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SOUTH CHINA SEA — Beneath the organized chaos of fighter jets launching and recovering from the sprawling flight deck of the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Carl Vinson (CVN 70), there lies a world few Sailors ever see — a labyrinth of armored magazines filled with ordnance and Sailors in red shirts working to ensure the ordnance is stored and moved safely. Overseeing this high-stakes environment is Cmdr. Michael Bautista, head of Vinson’s Weapons Department. His job isn’t just important — it’s vital. With over 1 million line items under his care and a team of more than 300 Sailors from five different rates working around the clock, Bautista’s department ensures that Vinson remains locked, loaded and ready for anything.
Bautista is the type of man who wakes up before dawn lights up the sky, and is already in his office before most Sailors even think about getting out of their racks. Bautista’s steady, buoyant presence belies the weight of his responsibilities. Every missile, every bomb that leaves the deck must be perfectly configured, tested and ready to perform. Lives depend on it.
But Bautista isn’t alone in this mission. His team and co-workers — composed of seasoned Sailors like his department leading chief petty officer AOCM Renaldo Collier, ordnance handling officer Lt. Cmdr. Joshua Willhite, and Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 97 gunner CWO2 Jason Mannin — share a bond forged from countless evolutions aboard carriers and strike groups in the Navy. Together, they form a cohesive unit, not just because they are good at their jobs, but because they know each other — how they think, how they lead, and, most importantly, how they trust.
Bautista first met Mannin aboard USS John C. Stennis (CVN 74), where Bautista was the G-1 flight deck chief. Under then AOC Bautista, they managed the relentless pace of ordnance loading, ensuring every jet on the deck was armed and ready for its mission from the magazine to the flight deck. Now, their dynamic is totally different.
“At first it was like, ‘Oh dang, that guy was my first chief when I joined the Navy 19 years ago,’” said Mannin. “Then once we talked a little bit and spoke on the past it just became natural. We’ve had a lot of conversations, and I’ve asked him for advice for situations or inputs for packages.”
As VFA-97’s gunner, Mannin is responsible to ensure his team of ordnance professionals are qualified and capable to load explosive and non-explosive ordnance of the F-35C Lighting II aircraft depending on the mission the aircrew is required to fly. Throughout his career, he often runs into people with whom he has previously served and who have continued to help him with his job.
“I feel like even though it’s huge, the Navy is a small world,” said Mannin. “I feel like it’s just a matter of time before you run into someone you have worked with before being that we are all rate-specific.”
Bautista first met Willhite years ago while working at Carrier Air Wing 11. Back then, Bautista was the carrier air wing gunner, serving as the vital link between the ship and the air wing’s ordnance needs, and Willhite was the VFA-147 Gunner.
“The good thing about Gun Boss is he hasn’t changed who he is. He’s consistent and great to work for,” said Willhite. “He’s a solid dude with a ton of experience, and we work extremely well together.”
Years later, when Willhite joined Bautista’s team aboard Vinson, they met as wiser and more developed leaders, able to work with each other seamlessly.
Bautista’s connection with AOCM Renaldo Collier, the department’s DLCPO, goes back to their time aboard USS Ronald Reagan (CVN 76). Back then, Bautista was the Ordnance Handling Officer, and Collier was the leading chief petty officer of the biggest division in weapons department.
“Having prior working relations allows us to basically jump right back into where we left off. We were able to help one another and network without having to build that relationship that everyone else has to establish first,” said Bautista. “Of course, it’s good catching up on life events and celebrating major milestones in their personal life and career.”
Collier’s role aboard Carl Vinson is critical. He’s the steady hand that ensures the department’s Sailors are trained, motivated and ready for anything. Whether it’s overseeing complex ordnance evolutions or mentoring a junior Sailor who’s struggling to find their place, Collier is a constant presence.
“I have always been one of Bautista’s senior enlisted advisors and someone he can trust to get the job done and turn his vision into action,” said Collier. “You know what to expect, you have an idea of strengths and weaknesses.”
For Bautista, the key to leading such a large and diverse team isn’t just about giving orders — it’s about trust.
That trust isn’t built overnight. It comes from years of shared experience, from knowing that the person next to you won’t crack under pressure. It’s a trust built on long days during endless ordnance evolutions and the shared knowledge that failure is not an option.
“The people we meet throughout our tours from command to command are all part of a network that makes our Navy what it is,” said Bautista. “It allows us to streamline our processes and function as one cohesive unit with a single objective to preserve ‘Freedom and Democracy’ throughout the world!”
But for Bautista and his team, their main goal is to get it done right every time.
And that’s why they succeed.
Their shared history, built on mutual respect and trust, allows them to operate with a level of efficiency and precision that’s important for Vinson’s operations.
Bautista, Willhite, Collier, and Mannin represent more than just a leadership team — they represent the best of what the Navy’s network can achieve. Through years of shared experiences, they’ve built a legacy of trust, excellence and dedication.
As they continue to lead aboard Vinson, their story serves as a reminder of the power of relationships in the Navy. At the end of the day, it’s not just about bombs and missiles; it’s about the people who handle them.
| Date Taken: | 01.25.2025 |
| Date Posted: | 02.04.2025 22:07 |
| Story ID: | 489855 |
| Location: | SOUTH CHINA SEA |
| Web Views: | 32 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
This work, It’s a Small World, by PO2 Emily Bennett, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
