Photo by Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Amanda Rae Moreno
ROTA, Spain – A 1991 Nova High School graduate and Miami native is serving our country in the Navy, living on the coast of Spain, and participating in a critical NATO ballistic missile defense (BMD) mission while assigned to the guided-missile destroyer USS Ross.
Cmdr. John John is the executive officer aboard one of the four advanced warships forward-deployed to Rota, Spain, a small village on the country’s southwest coast 65 miles south of the city of Seville.
A Navy executive officer is second-in-charge behind the commanding officer and is responsible for being the chief operating officer of a 1.8 billion dollar national asset responsible for providing global crisis response options directly to the president of the United States.
John credits success in the Navy with lessons learned growing up in Miami.
“Lessons I've learned from growing up in my hometown that I've applied to the Navy are teamwork, discipline and looking out for each other,” said John. “I played a lot of team sports growing up and when you're part of a team you're part of something bigger than yourself. The Navy is arguably one of the biggest teams in the world. It's a team I get to play on and I couldn't be happier or more proud to be with the teammates I serve with everyday.”
These four destroyers are forward-deployed in Rota to fulfill the United States’ phased commitment to NATO BMD while also carrying out a wide range of missions to support the security of Europe.
According to the NATO website, many countries have, or are trying to develop ballistic missiles. The ability to acquire these capabilities does not necessarily mean there is an immediate intent to attack NATO, but that the alliance has a responsibility to take any possible threat into account as part of its core task of collective defense.
U.S. Navy Aegis ballistic missile defense provides scalability, flexibility and mobility. These systems are equally beneficial to U.S. assets, allies and regional partners in all areas of the world. Positioning four ballistic missile defense ships in Spain provides an umbrella of protection to forward-deployed forces, friends and allies while contributing to a broader defense of the United States.
Guided-missile destroyers are 510 feet long warships that provide multi-mission offensive and defensive capabilities. The ships are armed with tomahawk cruise missiles, advanced gun systems, close-in gun systems and long-range missiles to counter the threat to friendly forces posed by manned aircraft, anti-ship, cruise and tactical ballistic missiles.
Destroyers are deployed globally and can operate independently or as part of carrier strike groups, surface action groups or amphibious readiness groups. Their presence helps the Navy control the sea. Sea control is the necessity for everything the Navy does. The Navy cannot project power, secure the commons, deter aggression, or assure allies without the ability to control the seas when and where desired.
The ship is named after Capt. Donald Kirby Ross, who was presented a Medal of Honor by Adm. Chester Nimitz for his actions during the attack on Pearl Harbor.
“I'm proud to lead such a dedicated, experienced, resilient and mission-oriented crew,” said Cmdr. Bryan S. Gallo, commanding officer of USS Ross. “Team Ross always meets the mission while taking care of each other and having a fun time doing it.”
Serving in the Navy is a continuing tradition of military service for John, who has military ties with family members who have previously served. John is honored to carry on that family tradition.
“My family has five generations in the military. I had a greatgrandfather who was in the Spanish militia in Puerto Rico and the other four generation are in the U.S. military, Army mostly, which includes my grandfather, several uncles and cousins who served in WWII, Korea and Vietnam,” said John. “It's the family business. We all grew up wanting to be a part of something bigger than ourselves. Freedom isn't free and this is just what we do.”
While serving in the Navy may present many challenges, John has found many great rewards.
John is proud of earning anything unit-based; anytime the team gets recognized is a great day for him.
Unique experiences build strong fellowship among the crew of more than 300 women and men aboard Ross. Their hard work and professionalism are a testament to the namesake's dedication and the ship's motto, "Fortune Favors Valor." The crew is motivated, and can quickly adapt to changing conditions, according to Navy officials. It is a busy life of specialized work, watches and drills. Serving aboard a guided-missile destroyer instills accountability and toughness and fosters initiative and integrity.
“I think the best job in the Navy is leading sailors and I think the best job on the planet is leading sailors who are leading sailors," said John. "For me, being in the Navy has given me the opportunity to lead follow and serve some of the greatest American on the planet. You can't help but to get better being surrounded by such great talent.”
As a member of one of the U.S. Navy’s most relied upon assets, John and other Ross sailors know they are a part of a legacy that will last beyond their lifetimes providing the Navy the nation needs.
“My favorite part and my least favorite part about serving in Spain is the operational tempo. Being on the schedule that we're on provides us the opportunity to support and defend what we hold dear and doing that there is no such break in the watch pattern, but also that optempo comes with a price as we are away from our families sacrificing time at home," added John. "It does put perspective on what we're doing out here and how important it is and what our families are doing for us is as arguably just as important. My favorite part about being out here in Spain is being sailors and doing what we do.”
A Navy executive officer is second-in-charge behind the commanding officer and is responsible for being the chief operating officer of a 1.8 billion dollar national asset responsible for providing global crisis response options directly to the president of the United States.
John credits success in the Navy with lessons learned growing up in Miami.
“Lessons I've learned from growing up in my hometown that I've applied to the Navy are teamwork, discipline and looking out for each other,” said John. “I played a lot of team sports growing up and when you're part of a team you're part of something bigger than yourself. The Navy is arguably one of the biggest teams in the world. It's a team I get to play on and I couldn't be happier or more proud to be with the teammates I serve with everyday.”
These four destroyers are forward-deployed in Rota to fulfill the United States’ phased commitment to NATO BMD while also carrying out a wide range of missions to support the security of Europe.
According to the NATO website, many countries have, or are trying to develop ballistic missiles. The ability to acquire these capabilities does not necessarily mean there is an immediate intent to attack NATO, but that the alliance has a responsibility to take any possible threat into account as part of its core task of collective defense.
U.S. Navy Aegis ballistic missile defense provides scalability, flexibility and mobility. These systems are equally beneficial to U.S. assets, allies and regional partners in all areas of the world. Positioning four ballistic missile defense ships in Spain provides an umbrella of protection to forward-deployed forces, friends and allies while contributing to a broader defense of the United States.
Guided-missile destroyers are 510 feet long warships that provide multi-mission offensive and defensive capabilities. The ships are armed with tomahawk cruise missiles, advanced gun systems, close-in gun systems and long-range missiles to counter the threat to friendly forces posed by manned aircraft, anti-ship, cruise and tactical ballistic missiles.
Destroyers are deployed globally and can operate independently or as part of carrier strike groups, surface action groups or amphibious readiness groups. Their presence helps the Navy control the sea. Sea control is the necessity for everything the Navy does. The Navy cannot project power, secure the commons, deter aggression, or assure allies without the ability to control the seas when and where desired.
The ship is named after Capt. Donald Kirby Ross, who was presented a Medal of Honor by Adm. Chester Nimitz for his actions during the attack on Pearl Harbor.
“I'm proud to lead such a dedicated, experienced, resilient and mission-oriented crew,” said Cmdr. Bryan S. Gallo, commanding officer of USS Ross. “Team Ross always meets the mission while taking care of each other and having a fun time doing it.”
Serving in the Navy is a continuing tradition of military service for John, who has military ties with family members who have previously served. John is honored to carry on that family tradition.
“My family has five generations in the military. I had a greatgrandfather who was in the Spanish militia in Puerto Rico and the other four generation are in the U.S. military, Army mostly, which includes my grandfather, several uncles and cousins who served in WWII, Korea and Vietnam,” said John. “It's the family business. We all grew up wanting to be a part of something bigger than ourselves. Freedom isn't free and this is just what we do.”
While serving in the Navy may present many challenges, John has found many great rewards.
John is proud of earning anything unit-based; anytime the team gets recognized is a great day for him.
Unique experiences build strong fellowship among the crew of more than 300 women and men aboard Ross. Their hard work and professionalism are a testament to the namesake's dedication and the ship's motto, "Fortune Favors Valor." The crew is motivated, and can quickly adapt to changing conditions, according to Navy officials. It is a busy life of specialized work, watches and drills. Serving aboard a guided-missile destroyer instills accountability and toughness and fosters initiative and integrity.
“I think the best job in the Navy is leading sailors and I think the best job on the planet is leading sailors who are leading sailors," said John. "For me, being in the Navy has given me the opportunity to lead follow and serve some of the greatest American on the planet. You can't help but to get better being surrounded by such great talent.”
As a member of one of the U.S. Navy’s most relied upon assets, John and other Ross sailors know they are a part of a legacy that will last beyond their lifetimes providing the Navy the nation needs.