by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Sarah Horne, SUBLANT Public Affairs Office
NORFOLK, Va. - Navy Machinist’s Mate (Auxiliary) 1st Class Stephen Fuhr, a London, Kentucky, native, is currently serving aboard USS San Juan (SSN 751), a nuclear-powered fast attack submarine, in Norfolk, Virginia.
As a machinist’s mate (auxiliary), Fuhr is in charge of maintaining the ship’s engines, plumbing, heating, ventilation, and air conditioning technician.
“I also maintain the equipment that creates oxygen and removes the carbon dioxide from the ship,” Fuhr said.
Fuhr is able to support the Submarine Force mission by teaching junior sailors and ensuring Naval policy and regulations are strictly followed.
“I create warfighters that are highly trained in preventative and corrective maintenance of life support equipment on the finest nuclear, fast-attack submarine in the United States arsenal,” Fuhr said.
Fuhr joined the Navy to follow in the footsteps of his grandfather and uncle, both of which served in the Navy, and he wanted to learn a trade. Since joining, he not only has learned a useful trade, but he is able to revel in the particularities of the engines he cares for with his peers.
“My favorite part of my job is when I get to repair a piece of equipment that very rarely breaks down and show one of my junior personnel what it looks like on the inside and how it really works," Fuhr said. "It’s a win/win in my book; I get to use my brain and my hands all the while passing on knowledge to a developing sailor.”
His proudest accomplishment, he says, is not just one event or one achievement; it is the continued success and development of the junior sailors he leads that is most important to him.
San Juan is a flexible, multi-mission platform designed to carry out the seven core competencies of the submarine force: anti-submarine warfare, anti-surface warfare, delivery of special operation forces, strike warfare, irregular warfare, intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance and mine warfare.
It’s 362 feet long and 33 feet wide, powered by a nuclear reactor to push the boat through the water at speeds of more than 20 knots while submerged.