SAN DIEGO – Lt. j.g. Sean Liberman, a native of Bainbridge Island, Washington, serves the U.S. Navy assigned to Helicopter Maritime Strike Squadron (HSM) 41.
Liberman graduated from Bainbridge Island High School in 2017.
The skills and values needed to succeed in the Navy are similar to those found in Bainbridge Island.
“I take pride in hailing from Bainbridge Island,” Liberman said. “There is so much that the community has given me throughout the years. I had a fantastic experience at Bainbridge High School; it provided the academic foundation that was essential for success in the Naval Academy and flight school. Additionally, the rowing team I was a part of in school imbued in me resilience and the importance of persistence if you want to improve. I am thankful for all the time I spent on The Rock and everyone who helped me get to where I am today.”
Liberman joined the Navy four years ago. Today, Liberman serves as a pilot.
“The leadership aspect of the Navy appealed to me the most,” Liberman said. “Being an officer puts you in a position to positively impact the lives of those around you, and I found that meaningful. I love helping people and watching others succeed. The Naval Academy afforded me the opportunity to pursue an education while priming myself for a promising career.”
Members of HSM-41 fly and maintain the MH-60R Sea Hawk helicopter, the Navy’s most advanced rotary wing maritime strike platform. The Navy MH-60R is able to perform many different missions. Some of the most common operations include strikes on maritime targets, submarine hunting and attack, electronic warfare, search and rescue, medical evacuations and supply support.
The U.S. Navy is celebrating its 250th birthday this year.
According to Navy officials, “America is a maritime nation and for 250 years, America’s Warfighting Navy has sailed the globe in defense of freedom.”
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.
Liberman has many opportunities to achieve accomplishments during military service.
“I’m most proud of getting my Wings of Gold,” Liberman said. “Flight school was the most rigorous academic environment I have experienced. Getting my Wings of Gold was the culmination of years of hard work and perseverance. It was challenging but rewarding. I learned a lot about myself and met some amazing people along the way. Flying is a wonderful experience, and I am proud to be a naval aviator.”
Liberman serves a Navy that operates far forward, around the world and around the clock, promoting the nation’s prosperity and security.
“Serving in the Navy means contributing to the formation of a more stable and peaceful world,” Liberman said. “I am a believer in the power of deterrence, specifically with regards to protecting the sovereignty of smaller countries in places like South Asia and Eastern Europe against their autocratic big brothers. I would consider myself a pacifist, and the Navy’s role in global stability always appealed to me. Everyone deserves the opportunity to live a peaceful and happy life. So, it’s an honor to contribute to that mission and continue to create a more peaceful world.”
Liberman is grateful to others for helping make a Navy career possible.
“I would like to thank my family first and foremost,” Liberman added. “I have had the opportunity to continue my family’s legacy of serving in the Navy. My father served as a submariner, and now I serve alongside my sister, who is currently in submarine school. My family has provided unwavering support throughout the years, and I wouldn’t be where I am today without them. I would also like to thank the friends I have made along the way. They have provided the support and camaraderie essential to succeed.”
Liberman is also thankful for the long-lasting relationships they’ve built while serving in the Navy.
“The Navy has provided unique friendships in unlikely circumstances,” Liberman said. “One of the toughest challenges in flight school was water survival training, where I confronted my greatest fear – open water – every single day. With my questionable swimming abilities, I would spend hours failing at treading and floating, questioning my life choices and the physics of buoyancy. Despite these circumstances, across the pool, each day was another student, Garrison. We took turns watching each other sink with determined incompetence. We would offer words of encouragement that were less about motivation and more about mutual distraction. Through sheer persistence and shared suffering, we somehow made it through. In the process, I walked away with survival skills, but with one of the best friendships I made in the Navy.”
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| Photo by Mass Communication Specialist Seaman Joseph Sitter, Navy Public Affairs Support Element West |
Liberman graduated from Bainbridge Island High School in 2017.
The skills and values needed to succeed in the Navy are similar to those found in Bainbridge Island.
“I take pride in hailing from Bainbridge Island,” Liberman said. “There is so much that the community has given me throughout the years. I had a fantastic experience at Bainbridge High School; it provided the academic foundation that was essential for success in the Naval Academy and flight school. Additionally, the rowing team I was a part of in school imbued in me resilience and the importance of persistence if you want to improve. I am thankful for all the time I spent on The Rock and everyone who helped me get to where I am today.”
Liberman joined the Navy four years ago. Today, Liberman serves as a pilot.
“The leadership aspect of the Navy appealed to me the most,” Liberman said. “Being an officer puts you in a position to positively impact the lives of those around you, and I found that meaningful. I love helping people and watching others succeed. The Naval Academy afforded me the opportunity to pursue an education while priming myself for a promising career.”
Members of HSM-41 fly and maintain the MH-60R Sea Hawk helicopter, the Navy’s most advanced rotary wing maritime strike platform. The Navy MH-60R is able to perform many different missions. Some of the most common operations include strikes on maritime targets, submarine hunting and attack, electronic warfare, search and rescue, medical evacuations and supply support.
The U.S. Navy is celebrating its 250th birthday this year.
According to Navy officials, “America is a maritime nation and for 250 years, America’s Warfighting Navy has sailed the globe in defense of freedom.”
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.
Liberman has many opportunities to achieve accomplishments during military service.
“I’m most proud of getting my Wings of Gold,” Liberman said. “Flight school was the most rigorous academic environment I have experienced. Getting my Wings of Gold was the culmination of years of hard work and perseverance. It was challenging but rewarding. I learned a lot about myself and met some amazing people along the way. Flying is a wonderful experience, and I am proud to be a naval aviator.”
Liberman serves a Navy that operates far forward, around the world and around the clock, promoting the nation’s prosperity and security.
“Serving in the Navy means contributing to the formation of a more stable and peaceful world,” Liberman said. “I am a believer in the power of deterrence, specifically with regards to protecting the sovereignty of smaller countries in places like South Asia and Eastern Europe against their autocratic big brothers. I would consider myself a pacifist, and the Navy’s role in global stability always appealed to me. Everyone deserves the opportunity to live a peaceful and happy life. So, it’s an honor to contribute to that mission and continue to create a more peaceful world.”
Liberman is grateful to others for helping make a Navy career possible.
“I would like to thank my family first and foremost,” Liberman added. “I have had the opportunity to continue my family’s legacy of serving in the Navy. My father served as a submariner, and now I serve alongside my sister, who is currently in submarine school. My family has provided unwavering support throughout the years, and I wouldn’t be where I am today without them. I would also like to thank the friends I have made along the way. They have provided the support and camaraderie essential to succeed.”
Liberman is also thankful for the long-lasting relationships they’ve built while serving in the Navy.
“The Navy has provided unique friendships in unlikely circumstances,” Liberman said. “One of the toughest challenges in flight school was water survival training, where I confronted my greatest fear – open water – every single day. With my questionable swimming abilities, I would spend hours failing at treading and floating, questioning my life choices and the physics of buoyancy. Despite these circumstances, across the pool, each day was another student, Garrison. We took turns watching each other sink with determined incompetence. We would offer words of encouragement that were less about motivation and more about mutual distraction. Through sheer persistence and shared suffering, we somehow made it through. In the process, I walked away with survival skills, but with one of the best friendships I made in the Navy.”