VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. - Petty Officer 1st Class Ty Hagel, a native of Salisbury, Maryland, serves as a U.S. Navy diver, supporting the Navy’s Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) Group Two, bringing salvage and deep-sea diving experience wherever the Navy needs it.
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| Photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Marieliza Rosales Navy Public Affairs Support Element East |
Hagel graduated from Parkside High School in 2014.
The skills and values needed to succeed in the Navy are similar to those found in Salisbury.
“In high school, I did welding through our vocational program and then worked as a welder and builder, which taught me good hands-on skills and the importance of thinking ahead,” Hagel said.
Hagel joined the Navy 11 years ago. Today, Hagel serves as a Navy diver.
“I joined the Navy to serve my country, travel, receive money for college, and be a Navy diver,” Hagel said.
Navy divers are elite warfighters trained to perform some of the most challenging and critical missions in defense of the nation. From the depths of the ocean to complex underwater environments worldwide, they conduct underwater repairs, salvage operations, ship husbandry and combat diving tasks to support the fleet and joint forces. With deep roots in maritime operations, Navy divers specialize in operating beneath the surface – ensuring naval vessels remain mission-ready and supporting a wide range of underwater tasks.
At the core of this mission is EOD Group Two, headquartered in Virginia Beach, Virginia. This command oversees multiple diving teams, providing expeditionary and technical expertise wherever required – from conducting salvage repairs on aircraft carriers to executing search and recovery missions. Navy divers embody resilience, precision, and technical skill, working in environments where conditions are often dangerous and unforgiving.
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.
Hagel has many opportunities to achieve accomplishments during military service.
“My proudest moment was when I was able to accomplish the fabrication of an underwater cofferdam, which required me to dry splice an O-ring in a dry environment,” Hagel said. "The result was that it saved the removal of the submarine propeller."
Hagel 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 I have to be above average and a good, respectable leader,” Hagel said.
Hagel is grateful to others for helping make a Navy career possible.
“I want to thank the great leadership I've had, both past and present,” Hagel said. "I want to thank my family for their support that has never stopped in 11 years of being in the Navy. Most of all, I want to thank my wife, Allison, for taking care of everything while I'm away or we have to move and for never failing to support me."
“To anyone on the fence about joining the military, I would say to them, if you don't know what you want to do or don't think college is for you at the moment, four years learning a new skill and getting paid to travel is a good way to figure it out,” Hagel said.