SAN DIEGO. – Petty Officer 1st Class Peter Burghart, a native of Colorado Springs, Colorado, joined the Navy 11 years ago. Today, Burghart serves as a mass communications specialist aboard USS Tripoli.
 |
| Photo by Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Jesse Hawthorne |
“I joined the Navy because I wanted to do something meaningful,” said Burghart. "I was trying to figure out what I wanted to do, but was kind of spinning my wheels. I was always inspired by service, so the Navy seemed like a good route."
Growing up in Colorado Springs, Burghart attended Cheyenne Mountain High School and graduated in 2001. Today, Burghart uses the same skills and values learned in Colorado Springs to succeed in the military.
“Growing up, I had a very safe hometown,” said Burghart. "I was given the freedom to become my own person. I've taken that into the Navy because I see junior sailors, and I want to help them find themselves and improve themselves through their service. I hope they get something positive out of the experience."
These lessons have helped Burghart while serving in the Navy.
USS Tripoli incorporates key components to provide the fleet with a more aviation-centric platform. The design features an enlarged hangar deck, aviation maintenance facilities realignment and expansion, a significant increase in available stowage for parts and support equipment, and increased aviation fuel capacity.
“The sailors aboard this ship have been given an enormous task--get this ship ready,” said Capt. John Kiefaber, USS Tripoli’s executive officer. “They brought this ship to life in the midst of a pandemic and continue to operate it safely and effectively, rising to every occasion. I couldn’t be more proud.”
Serving in the Navy means Burghart is part of a 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.
“I think the Navy contributes to national security by being the most available and on-call branch of the Department of Defense, since we can go and be in places that are more difficult for other branches to get to,” said Burghart. “Being paired with the Marines makes that even easier. So, we're one of the most important branches to national security just because of flexibility."
With more than 90 percent of all trade traveling by sea, and 95 percent of the world’s international phone and internet traffic carried through fiber optic cables lying on the ocean floor, Navy officials continue to emphasize that the prosperity and security of the United States is directly linked to a strong and ready Navy.
According to Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Mike Gilday, four priorities will focus efforts on sailors, readiness, capabilities, and capacity.
“For 245 years, in both calm and rough waters, our Navy has stood the watch to protect the homeland, preserve freedom of the seas, and defend our way of life,” said Gilday. “The decisions and investments we make this decade will set the maritime balance of power for the rest of this century. We can accept nothing less than success.”
Burghart and the sailors they serve with have many opportunities to achieve accomplishments during their military service.
“My proudest naval accomplishment was helping to tell the story of something tragic, but still getting the story out as quickly as possible: the USS Fitzgerald incident,” said Burghart. "It was a tragic incident, but I felt proud to be there to tell the story of the sailors and that ship. As a photographer, you hope you're never going to have to photograph something tragic, but you can still take pride in knowing you were there to do your job and tell the true story."
As Burghart and other sailors continue to train and perform the missions they are tasked with, they take pride in serving their country in the United States Navy.
“To me, serving in the Navy means being part of a large group of like-minded people who put the needs of others before their own,” added Burghart. "It means trying to live up to an ideal of what we are all capable of. Whether you are a Department of Defense civilian or in the military, the Navy’s ideal of service above all else is important to all of us."
USS Tripoli incorporates key components to provide the fleet with a more aviation-centric platform. The design features an enlarged hangar deck, aviation maintenance facilities realignment and expansion, a significant increase in available stowage for parts and support equipment, and increased aviation fuel capacity.
“The sailors aboard this ship have been given an enormous task--get this ship ready,” said Capt. John Kiefaber, USS Tripoli’s executive officer. “They brought this ship to life in the midst of a pandemic and continue to operate it safely and effectively, rising to every occasion. I couldn’t be more proud.”
Serving in the Navy means Burghart is part of a 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.
“I think the Navy contributes to national security by being the most available and on-call branch of the Department of Defense, since we can go and be in places that are more difficult for other branches to get to,” said Burghart. “Being paired with the Marines makes that even easier. So, we're one of the most important branches to national security just because of flexibility."
With more than 90 percent of all trade traveling by sea, and 95 percent of the world’s international phone and internet traffic carried through fiber optic cables lying on the ocean floor, Navy officials continue to emphasize that the prosperity and security of the United States is directly linked to a strong and ready Navy.
According to Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Mike Gilday, four priorities will focus efforts on sailors, readiness, capabilities, and capacity.
“For 245 years, in both calm and rough waters, our Navy has stood the watch to protect the homeland, preserve freedom of the seas, and defend our way of life,” said Gilday. “The decisions and investments we make this decade will set the maritime balance of power for the rest of this century. We can accept nothing less than success.”
Burghart and the sailors they serve with have many opportunities to achieve accomplishments during their military service.
“My proudest naval accomplishment was helping to tell the story of something tragic, but still getting the story out as quickly as possible: the USS Fitzgerald incident,” said Burghart. "It was a tragic incident, but I felt proud to be there to tell the story of the sailors and that ship. As a photographer, you hope you're never going to have to photograph something tragic, but you can still take pride in knowing you were there to do your job and tell the true story."
As Burghart and other sailors continue to train and perform the missions they are tasked with, they take pride in serving their country in the United States Navy.
“To me, serving in the Navy means being part of a large group of like-minded people who put the needs of others before their own,” added Burghart. "It means trying to live up to an ideal of what we are all capable of. Whether you are a Department of Defense civilian or in the military, the Navy’s ideal of service above all else is important to all of us."