BOSTON - Senior Chief Petty Officer Erica Chin, a native of San Francisco, California, is one of more than 60 sailors celebrating America’s 249 years of independence while serving aboard USS Constitution, the Navy’s oldest commissioned warship.
Chin graduated from American Military University in 2021 with a bachelor’s degree in hospitality and tourism. Additionally, Chin hopes to finish their master's degree in entrepreneurship and advance in rank to master chief petty officer.
The skills and values needed to succeed in the Navy are similar to those found in San Francisco.
“Growing up, I learned honest work and to earn everything that I have,” Chin said. “You also need to find opportunities to learn in every situation and to have a positive challenge in everything.”
Chin joined the Navy 13 years ago. Today, Chin serves as a culinary specialist.
“I joined the Navy to have a purpose in life,” Chin said. “I also wanted to build a resume for a future job.”
Launched from a Boston shipyard in October 1797, Constitution is the only surviving vessel of the Navy’s original six frigates and is the world’s oldest commissioned warship afloat. The ship earned the nickname “Old Ironsides” during the War of 1812 after British cannonballs were seen bouncing off the ship’s wooden hull. Constitution was undefeated in battle and captured or destroyed 33 enemy vessels in its nearly 60 years of active service.
Now, 227 years after its launch, Constitution’s primary mission is education and outreach, welcoming more than 500,000 visitors aboard each year. Its crew of more than 60 sailors is hand-picked to preserve and protect Constitution, while promoting naval history, maritime heritage and raising awareness of the importance of a sustained naval presence. The ship’s original missions of defending American interests and protecting sea lanes to ensure commerce remain at the forefront of the Navy’s mission today.
The U.S. Navy is celebrating its 250th birthday this year.
According to Navy officials, “America is a maritime nation and for 250 years, America’s Warfighting Navy has sailed the globe in defense of freedom.”
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 recruiting and retaining talented people from across the rich fabric of America.
Chin has many opportunities to achieve accomplishments during military service.
“My proudest accomplishment is becoming more self-confident and seeing the results of my hard work paying off in the end,” Chin said. “Additionally, I’m so proud of how far along I have come in my time in the Navy because it’s more than I expected to accomplish when I first joined.”
Chin serves a Navy that operates far forward, around the world and around the clock, promoting the nation’s prosperity and security.
“Serving in the Navy means being a part of something that has an impact on people’s lives,” Chin said. “It also means being a leader and not being a manager.”
Chin is grateful to others for helping make a Navy career possible.
“I’d like to thank my previous chains of command, who were all positive influences and showed me all the possibilities of hard work paying off in the end,” Chin added.