Cmdr. Scott Allen and his wife Nancy cut the ceremonial retirement cake following the retirement ceremony at the Captain’s Club. (Photo by AC3 Kiana Kahlbaum, NAS Kingsville Public Affairs) Naval service is more than just a commitment - it’s a life-long transition.

That’s how Cmdr. Scott “Stacker” Allen described his career during his official retirement ceremony June 4 at the NAS Kingsville Captain’s Club. More than 300 friends, family members and shipmates attended the event.

Guest speaker for the ceremony was Cmdr. Todd Watkins, prospective commanding officer of Carrier Airborne Early Warning Squadron One Two Zero (VAW-120), at NAS Oceana, Va., the Navy’s E-2C “Hawkeye” and C-2A “Greyhound” Fleet Replacement Squadron for the Navy. Watkins and Allen served together on numerous occasions during their careers.

“I believe it was during [Cmdr. Allen’s] tour with VXE-6 (Antarctic Development Squadron Six) where “Stacker” really started to stand out as a leader and Naval Aviator,” Watkins said. “He was one of the few who were capable of flying a C-130 transport plane at night from Christ Church, New Zealand to Antarctica and land on the ice. And he did this numerous times. Later, after he transitioned to the Navy’s E-2C community, he flew combat missions into Bosnia and Croatia. As an instructor at Carrier Airborne Early Warning Squadron One Two Zero (VAW-120), the Navy’s East Coast Fleet Replacement Squadron for the E-2C and C-2A community, he served as an instructor pilot teaching newlywinged Naval Aviators their fleet aircraft.

Capt. Phil Waddingham, right, presents the Navy Meritorious Service Medal to Cmdr. Scott Allen for his performance as NAS Kingsville Executive Officer from August 2006 to June 2010. (Photo by AC3 Kiana Kahlbaum, NAS Kingsville Public Affairs) “While I was commanding officer of the Black Eagles of VAW-113 I constantly heard about how great an instructor pilot Stacker was,” Watkins continued. “I couldn’t make it through a week with hearing a Stacker story from one of my junior officers or department heads, and I considered that - no kidding - a good thing because I knew I was getting folks that were ‘Stacker-trained’ and that I was getting a good product I could trust and I could count on.”

Cmdr. Todd Watkins, right, presents Cmdr. Scott Allen a traditional retirement shadow box on behalf of air station military and civilian personnel, honoring 23 years of dedicated service. (Photo by AC3 Kiana Kahlbaum, NAS Kingsville Public Affairs) Following Cmdr. Watkins’ remarks, NAS Kingsville Commanding Officer Capt. Phil Waddingham presented Allen with a Navy Meritorious Service Medal, gold star in lieu of second award, for superior performance as NAS Kingsville executive officer from August 2006 to July 2010. The award highlighted a number of specific accomplishments during that time period, most of all of which led to improving the quality of life on board the air station for Sailors, Marines, civilian employees, contractors and family members.

Cmdr. Todd Watkins, right, and Cmdr. Scott Allen present Nancy Allen a proclamation from Texas governor Rick Perry designating her an official ‘Yellow Rose of Texas.’ (Photo by AC3 Kiana Kahlbaum, NAS Kingsville Public Affairs) When it came time for his turn at the microphone, the 23-year veteran and outgoing NAS Kingsville executive officer reflected on his career in Naval Aviation, deployments overseas, combat missions, and family separations.

Kingsville Mayor Sam Fugate presents Cmdr. Scott Allen a “Key to the City” on behalf of the community. (Photo by AC3 Kiana Kahlbaum, NAS Kingsville Public Affairs) “As this is my retirement,” Allen began, “I see no harm in telling you all that I secretly joined the Navy in search of high adventure. Now imagine my disappointment when moments after arriving on the Regimental steps at Aviation Officer Candidate School in Pensacola, Fla. I’m face down in the fire ants counting-off push-ups. Clearly, the adventure had taken an unexpected detour.

“In fact,” Allen added, “the high adventure became high anxiety as I took off for my first familiarization (FAM) flight in a T-34 Turbomentor one sunny Corpus Christi day and discovered I had left the [landing] gear down for the first half of the flight. You see, it never occurred to me until that moment that I actually didn’t have any idea what I was doing.”

Change is inevitable in the military. Those who choose to make a career of military service know that, all too well. The road to high adventure isn’t paved with golden bricks and is not pot-holefree. It simply leads to deployments and assignments that stretch your limits, tugs at your heart strings, and molds you into something you never thought you would ever become; a world ambassador to freedom and human rights.

“I guess, if I was the engine that powered the ship during my career,” Allen said with a heavy sigh, “then my family was always my rudder. They say you can’t make up for lost time. I suppose that’s true. The singular moments in our lives that long separations deprive us of most – birthdays, anniversaries, holidays – can’t be relived. But not once has anyone complained. Not once did anyone question why we made such sacrifices ... because we are a family and we have always had faith in each other, love in our hearts, and hope for the future.”

Before requesting permission to go ashore from Capt. Waddingham, Allen called to the stage former Marine and Vietnam veteran Ken Mahaffey of the Public Works Department. During his tour as NAS Kingsville, Allen had relied on Mahaffey to help the command transform the appearance of the installation. As Allen’s “go-to-guy,” Mahaffey never faltered.

“Ken is a Vietnam combat veteran and one of my personal heroes,” Allen said as he took off his Meritorious Service Medal and presented it to him. “Please accept this end of career award representing 23 years of my life’s work as a symbol of my respect for you and all that you have done to make a difference here at NAS Kingsville.” Reluctantly, Mahaffey accepted the generous gift.

With that done, Allen saluted his commanding officer and requested permission to go ashore. He then left the stage, walked over to the sideboys, and to the sound of the Boatswain’s pipe and the ringing of the ship’s bell, Allen rendered his final salute and went ashore.