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 Kyle Dycus has served in the Navy for four years and works as a Navy electronics technican, serving aboard the Pearl Harbor-based guided-missile destroyer.
Dycus credits success in the Navy to many of the lessons learned in McKenzie.
“I participated in sports and the teamwork I learned is helpful to the military and the work ethic I have I got from my mom," said Dycus. "She is a Navy brat and she helped prepare me for my career in the Navy.”
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 electronics technician, Dycus is responsible for helping the ship to navigate and provide a path for the ship to go.
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."
“Serving aboard the Hopper is a stepping stone for better things to come,” said Dycus.
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 Dycus 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, Dycus is most proud of earning two Navy Achievement Medals and a letter of appreciation from a commander of a destroyer squadron and a letter of acknowledement for the radar he supports being the top of the fleet in the Rising Radar program.
“I like the face time and being recognized for doing hard work. It boosts my morale,” said Dycus.
Serving in the Navy is a continuing tradition of military service for Dycus, who has military ties with family members who have previously served. Dycus is honored to carry on that family tradition.
“Both of my grandfathers were in the Navy, my uncle was an aviation boatswain's mate and they served on the same carrier years apart,” said Dycus. “I plan to see this through to retirement and I appreciate the opportunities I have been given.”
As a member of one of the U.S. Navy’s most relied-upon assets, Dycus and other sailors know they are part of a legacy that will last beyond their lifetimes providing the Navy the nation needs.
“When I got out of high school, scholarships would not align for me to attend and I did not want to be in debt," added Dycus. "The Navy was the best choice to help me meet my goals.”