Photo by Dusty Good
NEWPORT, R.I. – Lt. Donita Lozada applied the lessons learned from Philadelphia to become one of the most elite surface warriors.
“My hometown taught me to keep your head on a swivel,” said Lozada. "Being in the Navy you are constantly adjusting to new situations, new jobs, new threats, so I learned growing up you had to be aware of your surroundings.”
Those lessons turned into an opportunity to learn leadership and the most innovative tactics of surface warfare at Surface Warfare Officers School, located in Newport, Rhode Island.
“I come from a strong military background,” said Lozada. "I like being a surface warfare officer because it's very broad in that you do a lot of different jobs, and you aren't pigeon-holed into one job.”
Considered one of the Navy’s greatest assets, surface warfare officers must first train and be mentored at Surface Warfare Officer School. These students must pass a rigorous course structure in order to serve as surface warfare officers.
The mission of Surface Warfare Officers School is to ready sea-bound warriors to serve on surface combatants as officers, enlisted engineers, and enlisted navigation professionals to fulfill the Navy's mission maintaining global maritime superiority.
Once service members finish training they are deployed around the world putting their skill set to work aboard Navy ships, such as aircraft carriers, cruisers, destroyers, amphibious warfare ships, mine warfare ships and littoral combat ships.
“At Surface Warfare Officers School, we are committed to training, developing and inspiring our Navy’s surface warfare officers,” said Capt. Scott Robertson, SWOS commanding officer. “Our graduates leave our courses ethically, intellectually, professionally and physically prepared to deliver professional leadership on every surface vessel in the fleet.”
Lozada is a 2005 graduate of Scotland School for Veterans Children and a 2010 graduate of Temple University.
There are many sacrifices and goals one must achieve to be selected as a surface warfare officer and Lozada is most proud of graduating from nuclear power school.
“It's the toughest school the Navy offers, and I worked hard to graduate, so I’m proud of that,” said Lozada.
The future of surface warfare is rapidly changing, so the course and materials at Surface Warfare Officer School are constantly evolving to create the most dynamic, lethal, safe and professional warfighting team for the Navy the nation needs.
“It is critical that students report to the fleet with the academic baseline required to perform as warfighters in today’s maritime environment,” said Lt. Matt Gallagher, the command’s public affairs officer. “SWOS training is at the epicenter of professional development for surface warfare officers throughout their careers.”
Surface warfare has been a part of world history for more than 3,000 years, and the United States has its stamp on that history with actions ranging from the American Revolution to modern day operations at sea around the world.
“Having family members who served at first discouraged me from joining because I saw how complex the work-life balance was” said Lozada. "But, as I got older, I understood the patriotic aspect of it, so as I matured it became something that I wanted to pursue”
As Lozada and other surface warriors continue to train, they take pride serving their country in the United States Navy.
Those lessons turned into an opportunity to learn leadership and the most innovative tactics of surface warfare at Surface Warfare Officers School, located in Newport, Rhode Island.
“I come from a strong military background,” said Lozada. "I like being a surface warfare officer because it's very broad in that you do a lot of different jobs, and you aren't pigeon-holed into one job.”
Considered one of the Navy’s greatest assets, surface warfare officers must first train and be mentored at Surface Warfare Officer School. These students must pass a rigorous course structure in order to serve as surface warfare officers.
The mission of Surface Warfare Officers School is to ready sea-bound warriors to serve on surface combatants as officers, enlisted engineers, and enlisted navigation professionals to fulfill the Navy's mission maintaining global maritime superiority.
Once service members finish training they are deployed around the world putting their skill set to work aboard Navy ships, such as aircraft carriers, cruisers, destroyers, amphibious warfare ships, mine warfare ships and littoral combat ships.
“At Surface Warfare Officers School, we are committed to training, developing and inspiring our Navy’s surface warfare officers,” said Capt. Scott Robertson, SWOS commanding officer. “Our graduates leave our courses ethically, intellectually, professionally and physically prepared to deliver professional leadership on every surface vessel in the fleet.”
Lozada is a 2005 graduate of Scotland School for Veterans Children and a 2010 graduate of Temple University.
There are many sacrifices and goals one must achieve to be selected as a surface warfare officer and Lozada is most proud of graduating from nuclear power school.
“It's the toughest school the Navy offers, and I worked hard to graduate, so I’m proud of that,” said Lozada.
The future of surface warfare is rapidly changing, so the course and materials at Surface Warfare Officer School are constantly evolving to create the most dynamic, lethal, safe and professional warfighting team for the Navy the nation needs.
“It is critical that students report to the fleet with the academic baseline required to perform as warfighters in today’s maritime environment,” said Lt. Matt Gallagher, the command’s public affairs officer. “SWOS training is at the epicenter of professional development for surface warfare officers throughout their careers.”
Surface warfare has been a part of world history for more than 3,000 years, and the United States has its stamp on that history with actions ranging from the American Revolution to modern day operations at sea around the world.
“Having family members who served at first discouraged me from joining because I saw how complex the work-life balance was” said Lozada. "But, as I got older, I understood the patriotic aspect of it, so as I matured it became something that I wanted to pursue”
As Lozada and other surface warriors continue to train, they take pride serving their country in the United States Navy.
“Serving in the Navy is being a part of the bigger picture,” said Lozada. "I think sometimes we as humans or individuals look at what we do in a day and realize we may not be making the impact we want, but serving in the Navy is like being tied into something much bigger.”