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 3rd Class Kennedy Muthiani has served in the Navy for two years and works as a Navy logictics specialist, serving aboard the Pearl Harbor-based guided-missile destroyer.
Muthiani credits success in the Navy to many of the lessons learned in Orlando and Kenya.
“I learned strong morale values like respect, working hard to achieve what I want, setting goals and having an open mind,” said Muthiani. “These traits have helped me work well with others, rank up while being recognized for my hard work and have a clear mind while working.”
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 logictics specialist, Muthiani is responsible for ordering supplies, running the ship’s post office and ordering parts that the ship needs to operate.
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 onboard is like creating a new family,” said Muthiani. “You make friends who you never forget, you learn how to work well and come together to make the ship operational. The better you get along the better the ship runs."
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 Muthiani 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, Muthiani is most proud of earning Junior Sailor of the Quarter for the Region Legal Service Office North West.
“It was a department recognition,” said Muthiani. “I think I showed them that I was working hard and they showed me that they recognized all the hard work I put into my job.”
As a member of one of the U.S. Navy’s most relied-upon assets, Muthiani 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 is a big achievement in my life," added Muthiani. "It makes me feel like I'm a part of something bigger than myself. I feel proud to protecting our nation.”