U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Rusty Pang
PEARL HARBOR – There’s a U.S. Navy ship unlike most floating in the waters of Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam. It's a Navy warship that honors the name of a female who has set the standard of excellence for those who have followed.
Petty Officer 2nd Class Sheniece Hambrick has served in the Navy for three years and works as a Navy damage controlman, serving aboard the Pearl Harbor-based guided-missile destroyer.
Hambrick credits success in the Navy to many of the lessons learned in Los Angeles.
“I learned how to priorotize my time and be well aware of my surroundings and that hard work will get you anywhere,” said Hambrick. “The hard work ethic I grew up with has helped me during long hours and to make sure the job gets done correctly with good time management.”
The sailors’ jobs aboard USS Hopper are highly specialized, requiring dedication and skill. The jobs range from maintaining engines to handling weaponry along with a multitude of other assignments keeping the ship mission-ready at all times.
As a Navy damage controlman, Hambrick is responsible for performing and training first response and damage control to the crew to combat any accident which may occur on the ship while inport and underway.
More than 300 sailors serve aboard the ship named for the pioneering computer scientist who served in the Navy for 43 years.
Though Rear Adm. Hopper joined the Naval Reserves in 1943 after being an associate professor of mathematics at Vassar College, retired from the Naval Reserve with the rank of commander at the end of 1966. She was recalled to active duty in August 1967 for a six-month period that turned into an indefinite assignment. From 1967 to 1977, Hopper served as the director of the Navy Programming Languages Group in the Navy's Office of Information Systems Planning and was promoted to the rank of captain in 1973. Hopper was promoted to commodore by special Presidential appointment in 1983. In 1985, the rank of commodore was renamed rear admiral lower half. She retired from the Navy on August 14, 1986. Owing to the breadth of her accomplishments and her naval rank, she is sometimes referred to as "Amazing Grace."
“Knowing that this ship is named after a woman who never gave up and persevered makes me only want to work harder,” said Hambrick. “I haven't been onboard very long but knowing what I do know about Grace Hopper instilled pride and a sense of honor as a woman to serve on board."
Navy guided-missile destroyers are multi-mission ships, equipped with tomahawk missiles, torpedoes, guns and a phalanx close-in weapons systems, that can operate independently or as part of a larger group of ships at sea.
Being stationed in Pearl Harbor, often referred to as the gateway to the Pacific in defense circles, means Hambrick is serving in a part of the world 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.
“Our priorities center on people, capabilities and processes, and will be achieved by our focus on speed, value, results and partnerships,” said Secretary of the Navy Richard V. Spencer. “Readiness, lethality and modernization are the requirements driving these priorities.”
The Pacific is home to more than 50 percent of the world's population, many of the world's largest and smallest economies, several of the world's largest militaries, and many U.S. allies. The Navy has been pivotal in helping maintain peace and stability in the Pacific region for decades.
Though there are many ways for sailors to earn distinction in their command, community, and career, Hambrick is most proud of being promoted from undesignated fireman to a damage control petty officer second class in less than three years as well as receiving the Junoir Sailor of the Quarter award.
“I’m very proud of receiving these because I enlisted pretty late at 26 years old, not knowing anything about the Navy,” said Hambrick. “I didn't know how long I was going to make it in the Navy, but I got a rate, then meritoriously promoted to third class and then advanced to second class.”
Serving in the Navy is a continuing tradition of military service for Hambrick, who has military ties with family members who have previously served. Hambrick is honored to carry on that family tradition.
“I have a sister who is a hospital corpsman first class on active duty, but my cousin is a retired senior chief and he influenced me the most to join the Navy,” said Hambrick. “I was always around him when he was based in San Diego. He and all his friends kept telling me to join and I always said no, but eventually I thought about it and the aspects that really appealed to me was the opportunity to have a stable life and attend school while serving in the Navy.”
As a member of one of the U.S. Navy’s most relied-upon assets, Hambrick and other sailors know they are part of a legacy that will last beyond their lifetimes providing the Navy the nation needs.
"Serving in the Navy, to me, means defending the world’s waterways with my shipmates, who are from different backgrounds and cultures," added Hambrick. "I really get to experience different cultures and have friends who I didn't think I would have had before I joined. Serving in the Navy has really been an enlightening experience going to different ports and countries while being able to further my education.”