A 2010 Warrenton High School graduate and Warrenton native is playing a key role in the lengthy and rigorous training process that transforms U.S. Navy officers into Navy pilots.Ensign Ryan Romaker is a student pilot with the “Rangers” Training Squadron (VT-28), based in Corpus Christi, Texas, that operates the T-6B Texan II aircraft. Romaker is responsible for learning how to safely operate Naval aircraft to ensure he is able to successfully complete missions in the fleet.“Being a pilot is great because I get to travel and see and experience things that most people don’t get to,” he said.The T-6B Texan is a training aircraft that is powered by a 1,100 shaft horsepower, free-turbine, turboprop single-engine, four-bladed propeller, with a cruising speed of 310 mph.VT-28’s primary mission is to train future naval aviators to fly as well as instill leadership and officer values, Navy officials explained.Students must complete four phases of flight training in order to graduate, including aviation pre-flight indoctrination, primary flight training and advanced flight training. After successfully completing the rigorous program, naval aviators earn their coveted “Wings of Gold.”After graduation, pilots continue their training to learn how to fly a specific aircraft, such as the Navy’s F/A-18 Hornet strike fighter jet, the P-8 Poseidon maritime patrol aircraft or the SH-60 Seahawk helicopter. They are later assigned to a ship or land-based squadron.Many of the pilots will fly aircraft which take off from and land aboard aircraft carriers, a unique capability which allows the Navy to operate anywhere on the world’s oceans.Recently, Navy attack aircraft operating from aircraft carriers sailing in the Eastern Mediterranean Sea and from Middle East waters launched hundreds of strike missions against terrorist targets in Iraq and Syria.As a member of one of the U.S. Navy’s squadrons with the newest aircraft platforms, Romaker said he and other VT-28 sailors are proud to be part of a war-fighting team that readily defends America at all times.“This command is a close knit group,” said Romaker. “It has a family-oriented environment and it is helpful in promoting a great learning environment.”Jobs are highly varied at VT-28, according to Navy officials. Approximately 69 men and women officers and 15 civilian employees make up and keep all parts of the squadron running smoothly — this includes everything from training the new aviators, maintaining airframes and engines, processing paperwork, along with handling and flying the aircraft.“Leading this extraordinary team of Naval Officers and civilians is an honor,” said Cmdr. James T. Sultenfuss, commanding officer of VT-28.Serving in the Navy, Romaker is learning about being a more responsible leader, sailor and person through handling numerous responsibilities.“The Navy has helped me grow up,” he said. “It has given me a lot more sense of responsibility and accountability and assisted me in maturing a lot.”Ryan Romaker