MILLINGTON, Tenn. – As Americans reflect on the service of military men and women this Veterans Day, some may not realize that they are fellow residents with those who serve in the U.S. Navy Reserve.
Capt. Bryan Hooks, a resident of Pittsburgh, supports and defends freedom around the world, as a Navy submarine warfare officer, who serves as the officer in charge of Naval Operational Support Center Pittsburgh and the deputy assistant chief of staff for administration, Office of Naval Research Reserve Component.
Hooks is a 1992 Landon School graduate and native of Gaithersburg, Maryland. Hooks also earned a degree from Harvard University in 1996 majoring in biology.
Reservists seamlessly support and actively aid military missions while continuing to lead their own independent lives in the civilian world, according to Navy officials.
“The Navy Reserve is a 100K strong team of sailors embedded across the fabric of society, loyal and dedicated patriots, serving both in uniform and civilian jobs, ready to defend the homeland and deploy across the world in a moment’s notice,” said Vice Adm. Luke McCollum, Chief of Navy Reserve.
The Navy Reserve provides strategic depth to America’s Navy as it protects the American homeland and advances economic prosperity by preserving freedom of the seas.
In addition to serving in the Navy Reserves, Hooks is an assistant professor of neurobiology and runs a small National Institutes of Health-funded research laboratory studying the neural circuitry of motor control.
“I work long hours and on weekends with the support of my wife, four year old son and phenomenal mother-in-law,” said Hooks. “I am a researcher, which necessarily means unusual hours. This career has typically supplied the flexibility to schedule my work and Navy tasking to cover both.”
As a Navy reservist, Hooks supports the Navy Reserve Center tasking as required. With the Office of Naval Research Hooks provides technically skilled, warfare qualified liaison officers to ONR projects to provide warfighter feedback useful for optimizing the technology and tactics during development. This enables ONR-sponsored scientists and engineers to provide cutting-edge tools to the warfighter.
Hooks is playing an important part in America’s focus on rebuilding military readiness, strengthening alliances and reforming business practices in support of the National Defense Strategy.
A key element of the Navy the Nation needs is tied to the fact that America is a maritime nation, according to Navy officials, and that the nation’s prosperity is tied to the ability to operate freely on the world’s oceans. More than 70 percent of the Earth’s surface is covered by water; 80 percent of the world’s population lives close to a coast; and 90 percent of all global trade by volume travels by sea.
“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.”
Though there are many ways for sailors to earn distinction in their command, community and career, Hooks is most proud of having served five reserve unit commanding officer tours.
“I worked very hard when given the opportunity,” said Hooks. “My technical skills helped at every step of my career, but listening to my mentors and leadership training helped me to develop the skills, which did not come naturally to me, necessary to manage and lead several units. Once in command, I tried to work hard and be conscientious about my responsibilities to the commanders I supported as well as my responsibility to develop the sailors under my command.”
Serving in the Navy is a way for Hooks to inspire future generations, especially his son.
“I do not come from a long tradition of military service, but my family descends from the signers of the Declaration of Independence,” said Hooks. “I love the best values this country inspires - that All Men are Created Equal - and the sacrifices we have borne in order to safeguard them for future generations. I hope to pass this feeling of love and willingness to sacrifice for others on to my son, whatever career he chooses to follow.”
As a member of one of the U.S. Navy’s most relied upon assets, Hooks and other sailors know they are part of a legacy that will last beyond their lifetimes providing the Navy the nation needs.
“I appreciate the opportunity to serve my country and stand up for things in which I believe,” added Hooks. “Almost all my personal growth since graduating high school has come from the U.S. paying for my education, sending me around the world to experience new places and giving me the chance to have very unique experiences, such as surfaced midwatch officer of the deck on a submarine - far from land, far from home, and nearly alone in the ocean.”
Hooks is a 1992 Landon School graduate and native of Gaithersburg, Maryland. Hooks also earned a degree from Harvard University in 1996 majoring in biology.
Reservists seamlessly support and actively aid military missions while continuing to lead their own independent lives in the civilian world, according to Navy officials.
“The Navy Reserve is a 100K strong team of sailors embedded across the fabric of society, loyal and dedicated patriots, serving both in uniform and civilian jobs, ready to defend the homeland and deploy across the world in a moment’s notice,” said Vice Adm. Luke McCollum, Chief of Navy Reserve.
The Navy Reserve provides strategic depth to America’s Navy as it protects the American homeland and advances economic prosperity by preserving freedom of the seas.
In addition to serving in the Navy Reserves, Hooks is an assistant professor of neurobiology and runs a small National Institutes of Health-funded research laboratory studying the neural circuitry of motor control.
“I work long hours and on weekends with the support of my wife, four year old son and phenomenal mother-in-law,” said Hooks. “I am a researcher, which necessarily means unusual hours. This career has typically supplied the flexibility to schedule my work and Navy tasking to cover both.”
As a Navy reservist, Hooks supports the Navy Reserve Center tasking as required. With the Office of Naval Research Hooks provides technically skilled, warfare qualified liaison officers to ONR projects to provide warfighter feedback useful for optimizing the technology and tactics during development. This enables ONR-sponsored scientists and engineers to provide cutting-edge tools to the warfighter.
Hooks is playing an important part in America’s focus on rebuilding military readiness, strengthening alliances and reforming business practices in support of the National Defense Strategy.
A key element of the Navy the Nation needs is tied to the fact that America is a maritime nation, according to Navy officials, and that the nation’s prosperity is tied to the ability to operate freely on the world’s oceans. More than 70 percent of the Earth’s surface is covered by water; 80 percent of the world’s population lives close to a coast; and 90 percent of all global trade by volume travels by sea.
“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.”
Though there are many ways for sailors to earn distinction in their command, community and career, Hooks is most proud of having served five reserve unit commanding officer tours.
“I worked very hard when given the opportunity,” said Hooks. “My technical skills helped at every step of my career, but listening to my mentors and leadership training helped me to develop the skills, which did not come naturally to me, necessary to manage and lead several units. Once in command, I tried to work hard and be conscientious about my responsibilities to the commanders I supported as well as my responsibility to develop the sailors under my command.”
Serving in the Navy is a way for Hooks to inspire future generations, especially his son.
“I do not come from a long tradition of military service, but my family descends from the signers of the Declaration of Independence,” said Hooks. “I love the best values this country inspires - that All Men are Created Equal - and the sacrifices we have borne in order to safeguard them for future generations. I hope to pass this feeling of love and willingness to sacrifice for others on to my son, whatever career he chooses to follow.”
As a member of one of the U.S. Navy’s most relied upon assets, Hooks and other sailors know they are part of a legacy that will last beyond their lifetimes providing the Navy the nation needs.
“I appreciate the opportunity to serve my country and stand up for things in which I believe,” added Hooks. “Almost all my personal growth since graduating high school has come from the U.S. paying for my education, sending me around the world to experience new places and giving me the chance to have very unique experiences, such as surfaced midwatch officer of the deck on a submarine - far from land, far from home, and nearly alone in the ocean.”