Ensign Aaron Mauk, US Navy, recently earned his Wings of Gold.

Aaron, husband of Savannah Hughes Mauk of White Oak, is the son of Dicky and Bobbie Mauk of Gilmer and the grandson of Cody Mauk, Arnold Grimes, both of Gilmer, and Judy Grimes of Longview.

Aaron is a 2003 graduate of Union Hill High School and a 2007 Magna Cum Laude graduate of the University of Texas at Tyler. He applied for and was awarded a highly coveted Student Naval Aviator position by the U.S. Navy.

Subsequently, he was commissioned as a Naval Officer upon his completion of Navy Officer Candidate School in November of 2007.

Aaron has been in rigorous flight training for the past two years, including Introductory Flight Screening, Aviation Preflight Indoctrination, and Primary and Advanced Flight Training.

In his Primary Flight Training squadron, VT-27, he trained on the T-34C, and in his Advanced Flight Training squadron, VT-35, he trained on the TC-12B.

Aaron was awarded his Wings of Gold and designated a Naval Aviator July 10, 2009 at Naval Air Station Corpus Christi.

Captain Dave Price, US Navy, Commodore for Training Air Wing Four, led the introduction.

Vice Admiral Vivien Crea, Vice Commandant of the U.S. Coast Guard, was the guest speaker.

His gold wings were pinned on by his wife, whom he presented with flowers and a certificate of spouse appreciation.

The couple will be moving to Jacksonville, Fla. so Aaron can train in the Fleet Readiness Squadron, VP-30, and fly the P-3 Orion.

Afterwards he will join an operational P-3 fleet squadron.