Navy Chief Petty Officer Scott J. Wood, son of Verna M. Wood of Suffolk, and his shipmates are in the middle of a scheduled deployment, while assigned to the amphibious assault ship USS Kearsarge, homeported in Norfolk.

Wood’s ship deployed with USS Ashland, USS Ponce and USS Gonzalez as part of the USS Kearsarge Expeditionary Strike Group in support of the global war on terrorism and Operations Enduring/Iraqi Freedom.

The primary mission of Wood’s ship’s is to embark, deploy and land elements of a Marine landing force by helicopter, landing craft air cushion or amphibious assault vehicle.

Wood is a 1987 graduate of Forest Glen High School of Suffolk, Va. And joined the Navy in July 1987.