John Carmichael, NuEnergen’s Director of Client Services, recently learned of his nomination for Honorary Tailhooker of the Year.
The Tailhook Association represents the current and historical interests of Tactical Naval Aviation. As the name implies, members are mostly comprised of Naval Aviators who have served aboard aircraft carriers. The Tailhook Association is an independent, fraternal, nonprofit organization internationally recognized as the premier supporter of the aircraft carrier and other sea-based aviation.
The purposes of the Association are: to foster, encourage, develop, study, and support the aircraft carrier, sea-based aircraft, both fixed and rotary wing, and aircrews of the United States of America; and to educate and inform the public in the appropriate role of the aircraft carrier and carrier aviation in the nation’s defense system.
Two years ago, John approached the Executive Director of the Tailhook Association, Capt. JR Davis about leveraging a new form of communication via the internet, creating a blog to share news, information, stories and other relevant information in a flexible, far reaching format. After the presentation, JR was sold on the idea and quickly issued the order… “Make it Happen!”
John then proceeded to design, build, and implement the “Tailhook Daily Briefing” the association’s blog. Not only did John create the Daily Briefing, 
he has continued to serve as editor, writer and photographer for the blog. John’s knowledge of the internet and Naval Aviation communities has allowed him to recruit other writers for the Daily Briefing providing first hand articles by those who are on the tip of the spear, both today and in our historic past.
In the two years since creating the Daily Briefing, the blog has received more hits and has been read by more people than the original Tailhook website has in the past 4 years; successfully exposing tens of thousands of new readers per year to the rich heritage of Naval Aviation.
In his tenure at The Daily Briefing, John has written over 300 articles ranging from the Care and Outreach of a Squadron (VFC-13 the “Saints”) to a fourteen year old in Grand Junction Colorado with testicular cancer, to the recent commissioning of the aircraft carrier USS George H.W. Bush (CVN-77). These articles along with numerous others have received national attention being linked to by countless mainstream news and information sites.
For his efforts, John learned recently that he has been nominated for Honorary Tailhooker of the Year. He will learn if he has indeed been selected for this prestigious honor at this year’s National Convention held in Reno in September.
John’s affiliation with Naval Aviation began with is birth. His father, RADM E.I. “Hoagy” Carmichael (USN Ret) is a 33 year 
career Naval Aviator, with a history in the Navy that includes commanding an A-6 Intruder Squadron (VA-115) during the Vietnam War, and later commanding an entire Airwing (CVW-15) followed by his assignment as Commanding Officer of the USS Midway (CV-41) home ported in Yokosuka Japan. Eventually Admiral Carmichael commanded the 11th and 12th Naval Districts (California, Arizona, Nevada) and then in the mid 80’s served as Commander Fleet Air Western Pacific, and Commander Naval Forces Japan, retiring in 1988 to his current home in Jacksonville FL where he lives with his wife Jo.
This life gave John a front row seat to the history of Naval Aviation for over 20 years. Originally John’s plans were to follow in his father’s footsteps by joining the Navy after college and attending Air Officer Candidate School in Pensacola Florida. But even after successfully completing a rigorous battery of academic and physical qualification tests, and receiving a date of entry, John could not avoid the budget cuts of the 1990 “Peace Dividend.” John’s opportunity to live his life long goal of becoming a Naval Aviator was not to be.
This set back did not diminish John’s passion for Naval Aviation, he has remained well connected with many who are currently serving this nation’s defense as aviators and welcomes any opportunity to listen to a tale or two woven by veterans of Naval Air’s historic past, knowing he can now benefit all who are interested with a new tale for the pages of The Daily Briefing.
We at NuEnergen wish John luck in his selection for Tailhooker of the Year and applaud his support for our nation’s armed forces especially the US Navy. We are proud to have John as a member of our team.
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