MILLINGTON, Tenn. – Cmdr. Jake Ferrari, a native of Des Moines, Iowa, serves as the commanding officer of USS Paul Hamilton, a guided-missile destroyer.
Ferrari joined the Navy 19 years ago.
“I joined the Navy because I was influenced by my grandfather, who served in the Navy during the Korean War,” said Ferrari. “Additionally, I wanted to see the world, earn a college degree and develop leadership skills. The Navy was a great way to accomplish all three goals.”
Ferrari attended Valley High School and graduated in 1999. Additionally, Ferrari graduated from the United States Naval Academy in 2004 and earned a master’s degree from the Catholic University of America in 2012.
Today, Ferrari relies upon skills and values similar to those found in Des Moines to succeed in the military.
“The biggest lesson I learned growing up in Iowa is the value of hard work,” said Ferrari. “There is a lot to be said for the Mid-West work ethic. Iowans have always been a self-reliant and hard-working group of people. Hard work is valued by many companies and organizations, but it is especially valued by our Armed Forces. It is our people and their hard work that make our Navy special and successful. I am proud to be part of an organization where hard work is valued.”
Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyers provide a wide range of warfighting capabilities in multi-threat air, surface and subsurface environments.
A Navy destroyer is a multi-mission ship that can operate independently or as part of a larger group of ships at sea. The ship is equipped with tomahawk missiles, torpedoes, guns and a phalanx close-in weapons system.
More than 300 sailors serve aboard USS Paul Hamilton. Their jobs are highly specialized, requiring both dedication and skill. The jobs range from maintaining engines to handling weaponry along with a multitude of other assignments that keep the ship mission-ready at all times, according to Navy officials.
As a member of the Navy, Ferrari is part of a world-class organization focused on maintaining maritime dominance, strengthening partnerships, increasing competitive warfighting capabilities and sustaining combat-ready forces in support of the National Defense Strategy.
“Our Navy contributes to the national defense by always being present throughout the world, assuring our allies that the United States is committed to stability in an unstable world,” said Ferrari. “The Navy allows the free-flow of commerce throughout the world's waterways, especially surface ship Navy, made up of cruisers, destroyers and amphibious ships.”
With 90 percent of global commerce traveling by sea and access to the internet relying on the security of undersea fiber optic cables, Navy officials continue to emphasize that the prosperity of the United States is directly linked to trained sailors and a strong Navy.
Ferrari and the sailors they serve with have many opportunities to achieve accomplishments during their military service.
“My proudest accomplishment in the Navy is having command of USS Paul Hamilton, a 28-year-old guided-missile destroyer that has the ability to shoot down missiles from space,” said Ferrari. “The crew of the Paul Hamilton is the hardest working crew in the fleet and they always rise to the occasion to accomplish any mission we have been assigned.”
As Ferrari and other sailors continue to train and perform missions, they take pride in serving their country in the United States Navy.
“Serving in the Navy is a special calling,” added Ferrari. “The Navy is a unique service and it takes extraordinary people to serve on destroyers. Serving with such a special group of people is extremely rewarding. These sailors and these ships help guarantee peace around the globe. and help ensure peace at home. If a conflict arises, the Navy is the reason the fighting will be an ‘away game’.”