By Navy Office of
Community Outreach
ROTA, Spain – A Coco High
School graduate and Coco, Florida native is serving in the U.S. Navy aboard the Arleigh
Burke-class guided missile destroyer, USS Donald
Cook.
Petty Officer 3rd Class Adam Thomas is a personnel
specialist aboard
the forward-deployed Arleigh Burke-class guided missile destroyer operating out
of Rota, Spain. Donald Cook is one of
four destroyers homeported in Rota.
A Navy personnel specialist is responsible for all aspects of human resources to include taking care
of people's pay, travel and all administrative issues.
“I like being able to help people,” said Thomas. “My job is a sense of servitude.”
Commissioned in 1998, the
Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer, Donald
Cook, is 509
feet long; the length of more than 3 football fields. The ship is named after Donald Cook, a Vietnam War prisoner of war who died in
captivity.
Donald Cook is a
tactical multi-mission surface combatant capable of conducting anti-air
submarine surface warfare in conjunction with being outfitted with aegis
ballistic missile defense capabilities.
BMD enables the ship to conduct long-range surveillance, tracking, and
engagement of short and medium-range ballistic missiles.
"Donald Cook is Sixth Fleet's
premier forward deployed unit with an extremely high operational tempo," said Cmdr. Timothy Moore, commanding officer aboard USS Donald Cook. "My sailors continue to impress me with how hard they work, the pride they
possess and the dedication they show day in and day out in the execution of
their duties. Being able to command a ship with such a great group of
professional Sailors is an enduring honor and a privilege."
Approximately 30 officers and 300 enlisted men and women
make up the ship's company. Their jobs are highly specialized and keep each
part of the cruiser running smoothly. The jobs range from maintaining engines
to handling weaponry and everything in between.
“I love being at this command,” said Thomas. “I am able to travel and the location is great."
Although it is difficult for most people to imagine living
on a ship, the challenging living conditions build strong fellowship among the
crew. The crew is highly motivated, and quickly adapt to changing conditions.
It is a busy life of specialized work, watches, and drills.
As a member of one of the U.S. Navy’s most relied upon
assets, Thomas and other Donald Cook sailors know they are part of a
legacy that will be last beyond their lifetimes.
“Serving in the Navy is a sense of honor,” said Thomas. “Everyone in
my family has served and being in the Navy completes my family serving in
every branch of the service.”