Aviation Electrician’s Mate 2nd Class Haley Cox, a native of Virginia Beach, VA, strips a wire to build a P4 connector on a W1 cable for an F/A-18F Super Hornet aboard the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Harry S. Truman (CVN 75), Aug. 1.
Cryptologic Technician (Technical) 2nd Class Ethan Rodriguez, from Virginia Beach, Va., loads a MK 53 Decoy Launching System aboard the Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS O’Kane (DDG 77). O’Kane, assigned to the Abraham Lincoln Carrier Strike Group, is underway conducting routine operations in the U.S. 3rd Fleet area of operations.
Seaman Apprentice Charnyah Brown, a native of Norfolk, Virginia, serves the U.S. Navy assigned to Naval Station Mayport. Brown graduated from Indian River High School in 2017. “I learned to adapt to different environments because I moved a lot around the Hampton Roads area,” said Brown. “This helped in the Navy because you are always having to adapt to new people and new working environments.” Brown joined the Navy one year ago. Today, Brown serves as an undesignated sailor.
Quartermaster Seaman Amya Williams, from Virgina Beach, Virginia, operates radar equipment in the pilot house aboard the U.S. Navy’s only forward-deployed aircraft carrier, USS Ronald Reagan (CVN 76), during a fueling-at-sea with Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Ralph Johnson (DDG 114) in the Philippine Sea, June 4. Ronald Reagan, the flagship of Carrier Strike Group 5, provides a combat-ready force that protects and defends the United States, and supports alliances, partnerships and collective maritime interests in the Indo-Pacific region.
Quartermaster Seaman Ayress Alston, from Portsmouth, Virginia, assigned to navigation department, determines the ship’s heading aboard Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS George Washington (CVN 73) while underway in the Strait of Magellan, June 4, 2024. George Washington is deployed as part of Southern Seas 2024 which seeks to enhance capability, improve interoperability, and strengthen maritime partnerships with countries throughout the U.S. Southern Command area of responsibility through joint, multinational, and interagency exchanges and cooperation.
Petty Officer 3rd Class Zachary Powell, a native of Newport News, Virginia, serves the U.S. Navy aboard USS Frank Cable.
Powell graduated from Woodside High School in 2015. The skills and values needed to succeed in the Navy are similar to those found in Newport News. “My grandfather was in the Army for 20 years and inspired me to go into the military and serve my country,” said Powell.
Petty Officer 3rd Class Eric Madrid, a native of Virginia Beach, Virginia, is serving with Navy Mobile Construction Battalion (NMCB) 11 in support of Commander, Task Force (CTF) 75 in Guam. Madrid graduated from Green Run High School in 2019.
The skills and values needed to succeed in the Navy are similar to those found in Virginia Beach. “My dad became a Navy chief back when I was still in middle school,” said Madrid. “So the hard stuff in Navy life came pretty easily for me because I lived with a certain level of discipline. I was already prepared for what it would be like.”
“Man I wish I could tell you everything. We got married young, I was 18 he was 21…. little did we know what life would have in store for us. Through the last 16 years we have experienced many hardships. We have seen a healthy born child, 3 kids through the nicu , 2 fetal deaths , multiple deployments and t.d.ys . We recently moved to help our family try to overcome struggles involving our son. During all these hardships ( more then i can explain here) my husband has remanded a rock and has strived to overcome the suck. He is one of the strongest people i know and could truly use a pick me up. While this explanation might not seem like much, I can guarantee if you knew him you would truly know how great and deserving he is.”
Lt. j.g. Tristan Walker, a 2018 graduate of Ocean High School and a graduate of Maine Maritime Academy, was recently promoted to lieutenant junior grade after completing a second year of service in the Navy.
Pecsoy joined the Navy five years ago. Today, Pecsoy serves as a yeoman. “I joined the Navy to better myself and to continue my education,” said Pecsoy. “I learned the importance of having a strong work ethic, to always have a smile on your face, and to always get the job done,”
