Nancy Vaughn stood at the base of a 100-foot-high communication tower overlooking the Pacific Ocean at Battery Humphrey, Naval Sea Command (NAVSEA) Port Hueneme San Diego Detachment on an overcast morning.
Her face beamed with pride as she unveiled the federal memorial plaque Friday, June 15, dedicated to the memory of her late husband, Larry Vaughn. The site dedicated to Vaughn for his 24-year career pays tribute to his work as an electronic technician and computer systems analyst for the U.S. Navy.
It also pays homage to his leadership role in bringing about the Cooperative Engagement Capability (CEC) tower ” the only one of its kind ” to Point Loma, said Capt. Peter Nardi, integrated warfare systems major program manager.
“Today’s dedication represents both another achievement in Larry’s storied career and a tangible reminder of his significant contribution to our naval forces,” said Nardi said.
Vaughn’s likeness, now etched on a large plaque embedded into a stone memorial wall, sits next to the strategic site that enables radar communication between naval ships and aircraft, literally as far as the eye can see over the horizon.
Vaughn’s two daughters, his mother Lois and his wife, Nancy, watched as NAVSEA Port Hueneme Commander Capt. Stephen Huber, Nardi and former co-workers spoke about Vaughn’s contributions to NAVSEA capabilities. Co-workers spoke to Vaughn’s tireless efforts to bring the tower to Point Loma since 1997 ” a dream realized with an initial dedication in 2002.
Vaughn was responsible for helping the Navy meet regulatory requirements for the tower and demonstrating to Navy and government officials that the technology worked, Nardi said.
Vaughn also helped the Navy satisfy Coastal Commission requirements for environmental impact, Huber said.
According to Huber, the commission found no significant impact despite questions over possible effects on the rosy boa habitats and gnatcatcher nesting sites near the battery.
Because of Vaughn’s efforts, the CEC tower adds a crucial strategic component to NAVSEA capabilities, Huber said. It can connect radar information from any ship or aircraft to a CEC or other information network.
This connection is facilitated even when out of direct line of site of another ship or aircraft, he said.
The CEC has also supported the Third Fleet Pacific Coast operations and equipment checks for ships moored in the Port of San Diego, according to a statement released by NAVSEA.
“Every time a ship sails and joins the network, Larry sails with that crew,” Nardi said.
Vaughn passed away April 14, 2005 from mesothelioma, a type of cancer. Vaughn worked very hard and took his work seriously, Nancy said.
Working up from an entry-level electronic apprenticeship, he applied his knowledge of electronics over his 24-year career to tackle bigger projects like the CEC tower, Nancy said.
“I’m incredibly proud, because Larry was so dedicated to the fleet,” Nancy Vaughn said, “His family has his love and devotion, but we were second fiddle to the Navy and the fleet,” she said of his work on the tower.
Married from 1990 until his passing, Nancy said she honors his memory by doing things they planned to do together. Nancy went to Japan on the second anniversary of his passing, fulfilling a dream he had of traveling to that country.
Nancy still lives in the Sunset Cliffs area in Ocean Beach and is building a garage that her late husband always wanted to build, she said.
Vaughn’s daughters, Tammy GianFrancisco and Lisa Torres, also were present at the dedication ceremony. Each with their own families, they said their father was a role model for them and the community.
“We looked up to him and had so much respect for him as a man and as a dad,” said GianFrancisco.