Thursday, December 12, 2019

Oakland Native Promoted to Petty Officer Third Class

(NORFOLK, Va.) An Oakland, California, native was promoted to the rank of petty officer third class aboard the Nimitz-class nuclear-powered aircraft carrier USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN 69), Dec. 9.

Yeoman 3rd Class Malik Jones, a 2013 graduate of Vista Murrieta High School, was one of 140 Sailors to receive a promotion to the next paygrade.

Sailors were advanced based on a number of factors such as evaluations, exam scores, time in rate, awards and pass not advanced points.

Capt. Kyle Higgins, USS Dwight D. Eisenhower’s commanding officer, congratulated the Sailors.

“This takes a lot of hard work, a lot of determination, moral fortitude, grit and resiliency,” said Higgins. “Thank you for the jobs that you do, thank you for the leadership you provide. You’ve earned it, keep it.”

Jones said he was honored to be selected.

"This is definitely a humbling experience,” he said. “I’d like to thank my shipmates who were willing to lend a helping hand whenever I had a question even when they had other duties at the time.”

Dwight D. Eisenhower is currently underway conducting carrier qualifications in the Atlantic Ocean.