MILLINGTON, Tenn. - Lt. j.g. Wiatt Lewis, a native of Panama City Beach, Florida, serves the U.S. Navy assigned to Naval Construction Battalion (NCB) 14, which is participating in Baltic Operations (BALTOPS) 2025 in northeastern Europe. This multi-national exercise runs from June 5 to 20.
Lewis graduated from Rutherford High School in 2015. Additionally, Lewis graduated from Florida State University in 2018 with a bachelor's degree in civil engineering.
Lewis joined the Navy two years ago. Today, Lewis serves as a civil engineer.
"I joined because I wanted to learn how to be a leader," Lewis said. "I wanted to be involved in something larger than what I was doing on the civilian side. There’s a purpose, it’s a challenge, and it gives me something to strive for."
Since joining the Navy, Lewis has learned many skills that help them succeed.
"Growing up, I learned work ethic and duty," Lewis said. "I worked a lot of long hours in jobs before I joined the Navy. It stuck with me that I’ll always lead from the front and work with my sailors to accomplish the mission."
BALTOPS 25 is the premier maritime-focused annual military exercise in the Baltic region and provides a unique opportunity to strengthen warfighting readiness and combat credibility critical to deterrence and preserving safety and security in the Baltic Sea. BALTOPS sharpens U.S. maritime readiness and offers opportunities to train and test emerging capabilities that will enhance our ability to protect the homeland and integrate with our allies for the collective defense of Europe.
Lewis has many opportunities to achieve accomplishments during military service.
"My proudest accomplishment is earning my Seabee Warfare pin," Lewis said.
Participating nations include Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Sweden, Turkey, the United Kingdom and the United States.
Lewis serves a Navy that operates far forward, around the world and around the clock, promoting the nation's prosperity and security.
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.
"Serving in the Navy means service before self," Lewis said. "It's about having a mission-first attitude and being flexible enough to accomplish any mission, despite any challenges presented."
Lewis is grateful to others for helping make a Navy career possible.
"I'd like to thank my father, Doug Lewis, who’s an Air Force veteran," Lewis added. "He’s always been supportive and stuck with me, and believed that I was meant for something bigger. He’s always been by my side and pushed me to be the best I can be."