Taking charge

OCALA - Twenty-two years in the U.S. Navy just wasn't enough for Jeffrey Askew, who retired from the service and now is director of Marion County Veterans Services.

Askew joined the Navy in 1977, in part because of an affinity for water-related recreation.

"I like all kinds of water sports - swimming, fishing, anything to do with the water," Askew said. "I figured I would get a chance to do some serious fishing."

His Navy career gave him an opportunity to fish all over the world, in places including Israel, Dubai, Spain, Norway, the Philippines and Thailand.

"I joined the Navy to see the world, and that is exactly what I did," Askew said.

After basic training in California and a stop at Lakehurst, N.J., Askew's first command was with the VT 4 Squadron at Pensacola Naval Air Station.

That was followed by a transfer aboard the USS Coral Sea for a trip to Guam, the Philippines, Thailand and Singapore. Askew also spent time aboard a Spruance-class destroyer, the USS O'Bannon DD 987.

"Our mission was to chase Russian submarines and protect aircraft carriers," he said.

As an instructor at the Flight Training Center in Dam Neck, Va., Askew provided Navy personnel with simulated warfare training.

He was aboard the USS Dwight D. Eisenhower during Operation Desert Shield and was involved in the liberation and defense of Kuwait. Askew transferred to a technical support center in the Mediterranean, the air traffic control authority, and served from 1993 to 1996.

He was the first member of the armed forces to be awarded the Military Outstanding Volunteer Service Medal.

"My last duty station was right here in Marion County," he said.

Attached to the Jacksonville Air Station, Askew was assigned to work as Operations Officer at the bombing test range in the Ocala National Forest.

Askew retired from the U.S. Navy with the rank of commander in 1999. His first civilian job was with Marion County Human Resources. In 2002, he was given a promotion and asked to take charge of Marion County Veterans Services.

"As it states in our brochure, we are not a branch of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. Our office is a department under the Marion County Board of County Commissioners," he said.