MILLINGTON, Tenn. – A native of Hagerstown, Maryland, was recently promoted while serving the U.S. Navy assigned to USS Boxer.
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Lt. Erik Stupelman, a native of Hagerstown, Maryland, is pinned to the rank of lieutenant during a promotion ceremony on the flight deck aboard USS Boxer in March. (Photo by Mass Communication Specialist Seaman Tyler Miles) |
Lt. Erik Stupelman, a 2012 graduate of Clear Spring High School who also graduated from Hagerstown Community College in 2014 and Liberty University in 2016, was promoted to the rank of lieutenant aboard USS Boxer after four years of dedicated service.
“This promotion reminds me of all the late nights, missed calls, and re-scheduled commitments as an engineer getting the ship ready for underway training and operations,” said Stupelman. “This promotion marks the hard work I put in to help make that happen.”
With 90% 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 recruiting and retaining talented people from across the rich fabric of America.
Stupelman serves a Navy that operates far forward, around the world and around the clock, promoting the nation’s prosperity and security.
Boxer is a Wasp-class amphibious assault ship and the sixth U.S. ship to bear the name of the original HMS Boxer, which was captured during the War of 1812.
Amphibious assault ships transfer Marines, equipment and supplies and can support helicopters or other aircraft. Boxer’s crew is made up of approximately 1,200 crewmembers and can accommodate up to 1,800 Marines.
As Stupelman and other sailors continue to train and perform missions, they take pride in serving their country in the U.S. Navy.