KEY WEST, Fla. (May 29, 2023) – Petty Officer 2nd Class Cemaj Rollins, native of Chesapeake, Virginia, is serving aboard one of the nation’s newest, most versatile warships, USS Lenah Sutcliffe Higbee.
Lenah Sutcliffe Higbee is an Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer commissioned by the U.S. Navy on May 13, in Key West, Florida. Ship commissioning is a naval tradition that places a ship in active service.
USS Lenah Sutcliffe Higbee honors Lenah Sutcliffe Higbee, Higbee was the first woman to receive the Navy Cross while still living. Higbee joined the Navy in October 1908 as part of “The Sacred Twenty,” the first group of women forming the Navy Nurse Corps. She became the second superintendent of the Navy Nurse Corps in January 1911, holding the position for 11 years. Higbee served in the Navy for 14 years, leading the Nurse Corps through World War I and the 1918 influenza pandemic.
Rollins joined the Navy over four and a half years ago.
“I joined because I wanted to get away from home,” said Rollilns. “I was big on getting out and seeing the world. I became an information systems technician because my mother was also one and I fell in love with it. I also had the opportunity to play basketball for the USA team in Bahrain.”
Today, Rollins serves as an information systems technician aboard Lenah Sutcliffe Higbee.
“I deal with all computers and manage the consolidated afloat system network, as well as running the radio operating allowing the ship to communicate with another ship,” said Rollins.
According to Navy officials, Arleigh Burke-class destroyers are the backbone of the U.S. Navy’s surface fleet. These highly capable, multi-mission ships conduct a variety of operations, from peacetime presence to national security providing a wide range of warfighting capabilities in multi-threat air, surface and subsurface.
The ship’s sponsors were Ms. Louisa O. Dixon, former Commissioner of Public Safety for the State of Mississippi under former Governor Ray Mabus, Ms. Virginia Thompson Munford former Chair of Mississippi Bar Committees, and Ms. Rolanda Pickett Wilson former Special Advisor for Education and Intergovernmental Relations under former Governor Ray Mabus.
Rollins is proud to be a Lenah Sutcliffe Higbee sailor.
“Being a Higbee sailor means being a strong, smart and willful sailor,” said Rollins. “We’ve been through a lot from setting everything up from scratch.”
The Surface Force is focused on providing lethal, ready, well-trained, and logistically supported surface forces to fight today and in the future. The highly professional men and women serving aboard USS Lenah Sutcliffe Higbee are some of our nation’s best and brightest and are typical of the talented Sailors on duty in our Navy around the world today. They are prepared to go into harm’s way, properly trained, and ready to carry out orders in defense of our nation’s freedom.
“This crew displayed a phenomenal amount of teamwork, dedication, and excitement in getting our ship ready,” said Cmdr. Douglas Brayton, USS Lenah Sutcliffe Higbee’s commanding officer. “I am so proud of the crew’s efforts, proficiency, and accomplishments as we join the Fleet.”
With 90 percent of global commerce traveling by sea and access to the internet relying on the security of undersea fiber optic cables, Navy officials continue to emphasize that the prosperity of the United States is directly linked to trained sailors and a strong Navy.
“Our mission remains timeless – to provide our fellow citizens with nothing less than the very best Navy: fully combat ready at all times, focused on warfighting excellence, and committed to superior leadership at every single level,” said Adm. Mike Gilday, Chief of Naval Operations. “This is our calling. And I cannot imagine a calling more worthy.”
As Rollins and other sailors continue to train and perform missions, they take pride in serving their country in the United States Navy.
“I like everybody that I work with here,” added Rollins. “They all make it easy for me to do my job. They allow me to do what I love, which is being an IT.”
By USS Lenah Sutcliffe Higbee (DDG 123), Public Affairs Officer