Huntersville Native is Sailor in the Spotlight

By Commander, Littoral Combat Ship Squadron (COMLCSRON) One Public Affairs

COMLCSRON One's Sailor in the Spotlight for March, 2020, is Electrician's Mate 1st Class Matthew Schaaff.

A native of Huntersville, North Carolina, and 2005 graduate of Hopewell High School, Schaaff is a division leading petty officer and command career counselor aboard USS Jackson (LCS 6), an Independence-class littoral combat ship.

Schaaff credits his success in the Navy to lessons learned growing up in Huntersville.

"I learned to respect people from all different walks of life," Schaaff said. "Respect different points of view and opinions."
Since he began serving in the Navy, Schaaff is most proud of being named "sailor of the year" at three of the four commands he served with.

"Being selected as sailor of the year among all of the other incredible Sailors you work with is an honor," Schaaff said. "I’ve been fortunate enough to have been selected three times and I’m pretty proud of that."

USS Jackson (LCS 6) is a littoral combat ship, a fast, agile, mission-focused platform designed for operation in coastal environments yet capable of open-ocean operation. It is designed to defeat "anti-access" threats such as mines, quiet diesel submarines and fast surface craft.

"Serving in the Navy means I'm continuing in my family's footsteps, since both my father and uncle served in the Navy," Schaaff said. "I'm carrying on the legacy."