SAN DIEGO - Petty Officer 2nd Class Brain Cunnagin, a native of Lacey, Washington, serves aboard USS Jack H. Lucas, a U.S. Navy warship operating out of San Diego, California.
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| Photo by Mass Communication Specialist Seaman Joey Sitter, Navy Public Affairs Support Element West |
Cunnagin graduated from River Ridge High School in 2021.
The skills and values needed to succeed in the Navy are similar to those found in Lacey.
“I learned growing up to be kind and to have a learning mentality,” Cunnagin said. "These lessons are important in the Navy because you have to work together with different groups of people to achieve the same goal.”
Cunnagin joined the Navy three years ago. Today, Cunnagin serves as an operations specialist.
“I joined the Navy to learn new skills, meet people and explore the world,” Cunnagin said.
Jack H. Lucas is named for Marine Corps Pfc. Jack Lucas, who served in the Marines during World War II and earned the Medal of Honor for his heroism at the Battle of Iwo Jima after saving the lives of three Marines when he was just 17 years old. Lucas is the youngest Marine, and the youngest service member in World War II, to be awarded the United States’ highest military honor for valor.
Jack H. Lucas is a Navy destroyer, 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 Jack H. Lucas. 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.
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.
Cunnagin has many opportunities to achieve accomplishments during military service.
“I am most proud of completing Security Reaction Force-Advance School because it taught me the importance of what the Navy does to protect the USA,” Cunnagin said.
Cunnagin 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 I get to work with great people, learn important life lessons, make new friends and defend our country,” Cunnagin said.
Cunnagin is grateful to others for helping make a Navy career possible.
“I want to thank my wife, Abagail, for sticking by me through the times that I was gone underway and for reminding me how important hard work is,” Cunnagin added. “I also want to thank Operations Specialist 1st Class Deocampo, Operations Specialist 1st Class Guthrie, Operations Specialist 2nd Class Lewis, Chief Operations Specialist Montero, Operations Specialist 2nd Class Rivera, Cryptologic Technicians (Collection) 1st Class Swan and Lt. Maxwell for teaching me my job and how to be a good husband. They are all mentors in both my personal and professional life. Operations Specialist 2nd Class Lewis and I met in ‘A’ school and he is my best friend. I also want to thank my parents, Roxana and Brian. They are both in the military and they helped me prepare for military life.”