NORFOLK, Va. - Lt. Anthony Lee, a native of Cumming, Georgia, is one of more than 5,000 sailors serving aboard the self-contained mobile airport, USS Dwight D. Eisenhower.
 |
| Photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Jerome Fjeld, Navy Office of Community Outreach |
Lee graduated in 2004 from North Forsythe High School.
The skills and values needed to succeed in the Navy are similar to those found in Cumming.
“In Georgia, I worked a lot of jobs, like construction, landscaping, cooking and sales,” said Lee. “In the Navy, working hard and having a strong work ethic continues to be beneficial and are lessons I’ve been able to carry over."
Lee joined the Navy 16 years ago. Today, Lee serves as an air traffic control limited duty officer.
“I joined the Navy because I was going to college but felt stagnant,” said Lee. “I also knew the Navy provided good benefits. I was only going to serve for four years, but I’m still here almost two decades later and still enjoying it.”
Aircraft carriers are the centerpiece of America’s Naval forces. For more than 100 years, they have projected power, sustained sea control, bolstered deterrence, provided humanitarian assistance and disaster relief, and maintained enduring commitments worldwide.
According to Navy officials, aircraft carriers are versatile and have unique mission capabilities that make them a more strategic asset for the Navy than fixed-site bases. They are often the first response in a global crisis because of their ability to operate freely in international waters anywhere in the world. In addition, no other weapon system can deploy and operate forward with a full-sized, nuclear-powered aircraft carrier’s speed, endurance, agility and the combat capability of its air wing.
“Mighty IKE” is a nuclear-powered aircraft carrier named for Dwight D. Eisenhower, one of only four five-star U.S. Army generals and a hero of World War II who would later serve as the 34th president of the United States. Homeported in Norfolk, Virginia, the carrier is longer than three football fields at 1,092 feet. The ship is 252 feet wide and weighs more than 100,000 tons.
This year commemorates 50 years of women flying in the U.S. Navy. In 1973, the first eight women began flight school in Pensacola, Florida. Six of them, known as “The First Six,” earned their “Wings of Gold” one year later. Over the past 50 years, the Navy has expanded its roles for women to lead and serve globally, and today women aviators project power from the sea in every type of Navy, Marine Corps and Coast Guard aircraft. According to Navy officials, our nation and our Navy are stronger because of their service.
Serving in the Navy means Lee is part of a team that is taking on new importance in America’s focus on rebuilding military readiness, strengthening alliances and reforming business practices in support of the National Defense Strategy.
“The Navy is a key component to our national security,” said Lee. "Our maritime presence serves as a deterrent from near-peer adversaries."
With 90% of global commerce traveling by sea and access to the internet relying on the security of undersea fiber optic cables, Navy officials continue to emphasize that the prosperity of the United States is directly linked to trained sailors and a strong Navy.
Lee has many opportunities to achieve accomplishments during military service.
“I consider the selection to chief petty officer, closely followed by earning a commission in 2010, as my proudest moments in the Navy,” said Lee. “Both accomplishments are the culmination of a lot of hard work and determination.”
As Lee and other sailors continue to train and perform missions, they take pride in serving their country in the U.S. Navy.
“Respecting yourself and showing respect to fellow shipmates is what serving in the Navy is about,” said Lee. "It's also important for me to show my boys respectfulness and a sense of pride and patriotism."
Lee is grateful to others for helping make a Navy career possible.
“My parents, who still live in Georgia, helped me immensely,” said Lee. “They visit me every chance they get and are always there when I need to talk.”
Lee plans to continue serving in the Navy.“I'll be proudly wearing this uniform for at least six more years,” added Lee. “While doing so, I’ll continue to work hard to secure the oceanic airspace.”