By Ensign Brittany Crocker, Navy Office of Community Outreach
A native of Seattle, Washington, is serving in the U.S. Navy aboard the guided-missile cruiser, USS Cowpens.
Petty Officer 1st Class Andrew Wilson, a 2009 Aviation High School graduate, joined the Navy 10 years ago.
“I joined the Navy because I wanted to learn a trade, learn skills, be a professional and work with like-minded people,” said Wilson.
Today, Wilson serves as an electronics technician.
An electronics technician is responsible for maintenance, troubleshooting and operation of anything that transmits or receives radio signals on the ship, navigation equipment and sensor interfaces.
Wilson relies upon skills and values from lessons learned in Seattle to succeed in the military.
“Seattle taught me punctuality, curiosity and attention to detail,” said Wilson. “This has helped me excel in my Navy career.”
Homeported in San Diego, California, USS Cowpens is named after the Revolutionary War Battle of Cowpens, a major American victory near Cowpens, South Carolina. The historic battle weakened British attempts to wrest the southern colonies from American control.
Ticonderoga-class guided-missile cruisers are tactical multi-mission surface combatants capable of conducting anti-air warfare, anti-submarine warfare and anti-surface warfare, as well as humanitarian assistance, according to Navy officials.
Fast, maneuverable, and technically advanced, cruisers provide the required warfighting expertise and operational flexibility to execute any task overseas.
Serving in the Navy means Wilson is part of a world that is taking on new importance in America’s focus on strengthening alliances, modernizing capabilities, increasing capacities and maintaining military readiness in support of the National Defense Strategy.
“All of our imports and exports go over the water, so we need to maintain passage on the open ocean while defending our coastline,” said Wilson.
More than 90 percent of all trade travels by sea, and fiber optic cables on the ocean floor carry 95 percent of the world’s international phone and internet traffic.
Navy officials continue to emphasize that the prosperity and security of the United States is directly linked to ready sailors and a strong Navy.
“Maintaining the world’s best Navy is an investment in the security and prosperity of the United States, as well as the stability of our world,” said Adm. Mike Gilday, Chief of Naval Operations.“The U.S. Navy – forward deployed and integrated with all elements of national power – deters conflict, strengthens our alliances and partnerships and guarantees free and open access to the world’s oceans. As the United States responds to the security environment through integrated deterrence, our Navy must continue to deploy forward and campaign with a ready, capable, combat-credible fleet.”
“The Surface Force will continue to meet the challenge of strategic competition and respond to the realities of the modern security environment,” said Commander of Naval Surface Forces Vice Adm. Roy Kitchener. “Our efforts are critical to preserve freedom of the seas, deter aggression and win wars.”
Sailors like Wilson, have many opportunities to achieve accomplishments during their military service.
“On my first ship, I became the primary technician for almost everything in my work center,” said Wilson. “What I learned there, helped me advance to petty officer first class.”
As Wilson and other sailors continue to train and perform missions, they take pride in serving their country in the United States Navy.
“The Navy is my career,” added Wilson. “It provides stability for me and my family. My work helps protect everyone I love.”
