SAN DIEGO - Petty Officer 2nd Class Nicholas McNally, a native of Hayward, California, serves the U.S. Navy assigned to USS Carl Vinson, a U.S. Navy aircraft carrier operating out of San Diego, California.
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| Photo by Mass Communication Specialist Seaman Caleb Kissner, Fleet Public Affairs Center San Diego |
McNally graduated from California High School in 2018.
The skills and values needed to succeed in the Navy are similar to those found in Hayward.
“Growing up in the Bay Area, I was around a lot of resilient and charismatic people, which has allowed me to not only get through the challenges of the Navy but do so with a smile,” McNally said. “I also grew up around a lot of self-starters and innovative people. That has taught me how to be flexible and adapt to the many situations that arise in the Navy as well as how to stay motivated and motivate others.”
McNally joined the Navy three years ago. Today, McNally serves as an air traffic controller.
“When I joined, I was looking to work with a team and do something that served a bigger purpose,” McNally said. “My grandfather served as a lieutenant commander in the Navy during the Vietnam War. One day, I was on a tour of USS Midway here in San Diego, and a lot of the stuff I saw aboard the ship is stuff we have at my house from my grandfather, who passed away during Vietnam. It made me realize I could be doing something better. I was on a lot of teams growing up, and I missed the camaraderie of that. I joined the Navy to get back to that and have a purpose and figure out what I'm doing in life.”
Aircraft carriers are the centerpiece of America’s naval forces. For more than 100 years, they have projected power, sustained sea control, bolstered deterrence, provided humanitarian assistance and disaster relief, and maintained enduring commitments worldwide.
Carl Vinson returned in August 2025 from a nine-month deployment to the U.S. 3rd, 5th and 7th Fleet areas of operations, during which it conducted freedom of navigation operations, multinational exercises with U.S. allies and partners, and combat operations in the U.S. Central Command area of responsibility. Back in its homeport of San Diego, Carl Vinson remains a combat-ready force dedicated to protecting and defending the United States.
Among the largest warships in the world, Carl Vinson is longer than three football fields at 1,092 feet. The ship is 252 feet wide and weighs more than 100,000 tons. More than 5,000 sailors serve aboard these self-contained mobile airports.
According to Navy officials, aircraft carriers are versatile and have unique mission capabilities that make them a more strategic asset for the Navy than fixed-site bases. They are often the first response in a global crisis because of their ability to operate freely in international waters anywhere on the world’s oceans. In addition, no other weapon system can deploy and operate forward with a full-sized aircraft carrier’s speed, endurance, agility and combat capability of its air wing.
“The might of this ship doesn’t just come from its advanced technology, but from the skillful, resilient and courageous men and women who serve aboard,” said Capt. Joshua Wenker, commanding officer of Carl Vinson. “Our sailors have always been, and will always be, our greatest asset. Their hard work, dedication and relentless pursuit of excellence ensure that we execute the mission aboard America’s Favorite Carrier with pride and precision every single day.”
McNally has many opportunities to achieve accomplishments during military service.
“My proudest accomplishment is making second class after getting a non-judicial punishment only two years prior,” McNally said. “In the time that it took to put my rank back on, I received two flag letters of commendation and had unrelenting support from my chain of command in order to be reinstated and recommended for advancement. I pride myself on my ability to come back and keep grinding towards my goals.”
This year, the Navy is commemorating its contribution to the nation’s defense as the United States celebrates 250 years of independence. According to Navy officials, for more than 250 years, the Navy has sailed the globe defending freedom and protecting prosperity.
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 to me means not only a way to follow in my grandfather’s footsteps but also to allow myself to build the life and future that I want to have,” McNally said.
McNally is grateful to others for helping make a Navy career possible.
“I would like to thank my family for all the love and support throughout my multiple deployments, as I wouldn’t know where, what and who I’d be without them,” McNally said. “I would also like to thank my Carrier Air Traffic Control Center team for their camaraderie and support throughout my plights.”