SAN DIEGO — A Yorktown, Virginia native and 2005 Grafton High School graduate is serving in the U.S. Navy as part of a crew working aboard one of the country’s most versatile combat ships.
Petty Officer 1st Class Samuel Johnson is a fire controlman serving aboard USS Gabrielle Giffords based in San Diego.
A Navy fire controlman is responsible for missile systems and associated computers and radars for the ship’s self-defense.
The ship’s technological benefits allow for swapping mission packages quickly, meaning sailors can support multiple missions, such as surface warfare, mine warfare, or anti-submarine warfare.
Designed to defeat threats such as mines, quiet diesel submarines and fast surface craft, littoral combat ships are a bold departure from traditional Navy shipbuilding programs. The LCS sustainment strategy was developed to take into account the unique design and manning of LCS and its associated mission modules.
According to Navy officials, the path to becoming an LCS sailor is a long one. Following an 18-month training pipeline, sailors have to qualify on a simulator that is nearly identical to the ship. This intense and realistic training pipeline allows sailors to execute their roles and responsibilities immediately upon stepping onboard.
“Every single day our LCS surface warriors prove they are the best and the brightest – and let me tell you, they love their ships,” Capt. M. Jordan Harrison, Commander, Littoral Combat Ship Squadron ONE, said. “LCS are fast, agile, maneuverable and the minimal crew manning affords leadership and qualification opportunities you won’t get anywhere else in the Navy. Visit one of our ships and you will see ensigns and chiefs at the helm because that is just how highly trained and talented and motivated our officers and Sailors are in the LCS community.”
As one of 70 crewmembers for one of the Navy’s newest ships, Johnson explained they are building a legacy that will last beyond their lifetimes. Crewmembers know how important it is for the Navy to develop new war-fighting capabilities to continue their success on the world’s oceans.
Johnson’s proudest accomplishment is his service in the Navy thus far.
“This is not a normal job,” Johnson said. “It’s a unique experience to be doing something that most people can only see on TV.”
Through innovative planning, the design of systems, and crew requirements, the LCS platform allows the fleet to increase forward presence and optimize its personnel, improving the ability of the Navy to be where it matters, when it matters.
“The Navy is a lifestyle that has important impact on who I have become,” Johnson said. “Every day I become a better leader and continue to grow personally and professionally.”
