Occupation · SOC 55-1012
Aircraft Launch and Recovery Officers
Plan and direct the operation and maintenance of catapults, arresting gear, and associated mechanical, hydraulic, and control systems involved primarily in aircraft carrier takeoff and landing operations. Duties include supervision of readiness and safety of arresting gear, launching equipment, barricades, and visual landing aid systems; planning and coordinating the design, development, and testing of launch and recovery systems; preparing specifications for catapult and arresting gear installations; evaluating design proposals; determining handling equipment needed for new aircraft; preparing technical data and instructions for operation of landing aids; and training personnel in carrier takeoff and landing procedures.
Median wage
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Projected growth
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Annual openings
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per year
Employed (US)
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Job Zone —
Core skills
Active ListeningSpeakingCritical ThinkingMonitoringSocial PerceptivenessReading ComprehensionJudgment and Decision MakingCoordination
Knowledge areas
Public Safety and SecurityEnglish LanguageLaw and GovernmentCustomer and Personal ServiceEducation and Training
Technology & tools
Data base user interface and query softwareSpreadsheet softwareOffice suite softwareElectronic mail softwarePresentation software
Representative tasks
Take, receive, or check periodic inmate counts.Maintain order, discipline, and security within assigned areas in accordance with relevant rules, reMaintain knowledge of, comply with, and enforce all institutional policies, rules, procedures, and r
Competency framework
Skill expectations by proficiency level.
emerging
Inmate counts — conduct and record periodic headcounts under direct supervisor guidance on a standard housing unit.Institutional regulations — read and reference posted rules and procedures when responding to routine inmate requests in a correctional facility.Post orders — follow written post orders to maintain basic security and order within an assigned area under close supervision.Oral instructions — receive and acknowledge shift briefings and supervisory directives clearly at the start of each duty period.Incident observation — recognize and report unusual inmate behavior or potential security threats to a supervising officer on the floor.Basic record-keeping — enter routine activity logs into word processing or office suite software at the end of each shift.Emergency protocols — identify the correct emergency response procedures for common situations such as fights or medical events when directed.Communication equipment — operate standard radio and intercom systems to relay information between posts under supervision.Physical security checks — perform scheduled door, lock, and perimeter inspections following a standardized checklist on a residential housing block.Interpersonal boundaries — apply active-listening techniques to de-escalate low-level inmate complaints while maintaining professional boundaries on the unit floor.
developing
Inmate population counts — conduct, verify, and reconcile periodic counts independently and report discrepancies to shift supervisors in a multi-unit correctional facility.Order and discipline enforcement — apply institutional rules consistently to maintain security and inmate compliance with reduced oversight during routine shift operations.Policy compliance — interpret and enforce relevant regulations and procedures for common non-routine situations, such as contraband discovery, on an active correctional housing block.Emergency response — coordinate initial first-responder actions during minor emergencies, including disturbances or attempted escapes, by activating facility protocols and notifying command staff.Behavioral monitoring — observe inmate interactions over time to identify developing tensions or patterns of misconduct and escalate findings through proper reporting channels.Database entry and retrieval — query and update inmate management database software to track housing assignments, disciplinary records, and incident reports accurately.Shift documentation — prepare detailed written incident and activity reports using office suite software, ensuring completeness and accuracy for administrative review.Coordination with staff — communicate and coordinate actions with relief officers and support staff during shift transitions to maintain seamless security coverage.Regulatory knowledge application — apply knowledge of public safety statutes and institutional policy to assess the appropriateness of inmate privileges and restrictions.Stress management — maintain composure and self-control during confrontational inmate interactions, modeling professional conduct for newer officers on the housing unit.
proficient
Count integrity management — design, oversee, and audit inmate count procedures across multiple housing units to eliminate error and ensure accuracy facility-wide.Security and order maintenance — autonomously enforce discipline protocols for complex or escalating situations, including gang-related incidents, across the full scope of an assigned correctional facility.Policy enforcement leadership — interpret ambiguous institutional policies and apply sound judgment to resolve non-routine compliance scenarios without supervisory guidance.Emergency command presence — lead multi-officer emergency response teams during critical incidents such as escapes or riots, directing staff actions and liaising with external agencies.Critical incident analysis — conduct post-incident reviews by synthesizing witness statements, database records, and physical evidence to produce comprehensive reports for facility leadership.Advanced behavioral assessment — apply knowledge of psychology and social perceptiveness to identify high-risk individuals early and implement proactive management strategies within the housing population.Technology-driven oversight — utilize spreadsheet and database software to analyze trends in disciplinary data, generating actionable intelligence reports for facility administrators.Staff mentoring — coach developing officers in policy application, communication techniques, and emergency procedures through structured on-the-job guidance on the housing floor.Interagency coordination — communicate effectively with law enforcement, medical, and legal personnel to coordinate inmate transfers, hearings, and emergency responses across institutional boundaries.Regulatory interpretation — research and apply relevant law and government directives to ensure facility operations remain in compliance with current legal standards and court orders.
advanced
Institutional security strategy — develop and implement facility-wide security frameworks and post-order systems that align with departmental goals and legal mandates across all housing units.Policy development — author and revise official institutional rules, procedures, and regulations to reflect best practices, legal changes, and lessons learned from critical incidents.Emergency preparedness program — design and lead comprehensive emergency response training exercises for all security staff, ensuring readiness for escapes, riots, and mass-casualty events.Organizational culture of integrity — establish and champion standards of professionalism, dependability, and ethical conduct that shape the behavioral norms of the entire correctional officer workforce.Workforce development — create structured training curricula and mentoring programs that build officer competency from entry-level through senior ranks across the facility system.Executive-level reporting — synthesize facility-wide security data from multiple database and spreadsheet platforms into strategic briefings for senior administrators and government oversight bodies.Cross-agency leadership — direct collaborative operations with law enforcement, judiciary, and social service agencies to manage complex inmate management challenges at an organizational scale.Resource and staffing allocation — evaluate staffing models, shift schedules, and post configurations to optimize security coverage and officer welfare throughout the entire facility.Risk and compliance governance — oversee institutional compliance with public safety law, accreditation standards, and administrative regulations, holding unit supervisors accountable for adherence.Systemic incident reduction — analyze longitudinal behavioral and disciplinary data to lead evidence-based initiatives that measurably reduce inmate violence, escape attempts, and policy violations facility-wide.
Also known as
4 alternate job titles map to this occupation.
Catapult and Arresting Gear OfficerFlight Deck OfficerLanding Signal OfficerV/STOL Landing Signal Officer