PEARL HARBOR – Petty Officer 1st Class Ryan Cotner, a native of Lowell, Indiana, is serving aboard USS Daniel K. Inouye, a U.S. Navy warship, operating out of Pearl Harbor, Hawaii.
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| Photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Jason Waite, Navy Office of Community Outreach |
Cotner, a 2009 graduate of Lowell High School, joined the Navy 11 years ago.
“I joined the Navy because it was an opportunity to focus and rest after struggling in college,” said Cotner. "I also wanted to travel and do something meaningful and the Navy provided me that opportunity."
Today, Cotner relies upon skills and values similar to those found in Lowell to succeed in the military.
“Coming from a blue-collar town, a big lesson that has helped is that hard work pays off,” said Cotner.
These lessons have helped Cotner while serving in the Navy.
USS Daniel K. Inouye is a guided-missile destroyer that provides a wide range of warfighting capabilities. The 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 Daniel K. Inouye. 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.
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.
"Our mission remains timeless - to provide our fellow citizens with nothing less than the very best Navy: fully combat ready at all times, focused on warfighting excellence, and committed to superior leadership at every single level," said Adm. Mike Gilday, Chief of Naval Operations. "This is our calling. And I cannot imagine a calling more worthy."
Serving in the Navy means Cotner is part of a team that is taking on new importance in America’s focus on strengthening alliances, modernizing capabilities, increasing capacities and maintaining military readiness in support of the National Defense Strategy.
“No other Navy has a global presence like the U.S. Navy,” said Cotner. “That presence combined with the capabilities of our ships, is a deterrent to other nations.”
Cotner and the sailors they serve with have many opportunities to achieve accomplishments during their military service.
“I'm proud of being a part of the commissioning crew for my current command,” said Cotner. "I was able to take the ship from dry dock through its first deployment."
As Cotner 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 has given me a chance to honor my family members who have served,” said Cotner. "It has also provided my family and I valuable lessons such as experiencing new cultures and adjusting to change."
Cotner is grateful to others for helping make a Navy career possible.
“I would like to thank my wife, Elizabeth, and family back home for remaining so supportive throughout my career,” said Cotner.