SAN DIEGO - Petty Officer 1st Class David Tillman, a native of Livermore, California, serves the U.S. Navy assigned to USS Theodore Roosevelt, a U.S. Navy aircraft carrier operating out of San Diego, California.
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| Photo by Mass Communication Specialist Seaman Caleb Kissner, Navy Office of Community Outreach |
Tillman graduated from Livermore High School in 2011.
The skills and values needed to succeed in the Navy are similar to those found in Livermore.
“Working part-time at the VA hospital in Livermore allowed me to speak to veterans and learn about where they come from,” Tillman said. “Their stories started my interest in military service. It was always interesting to hear about their experiences in the Navy and learn from their point of view.”
Tillman joined the Navy 12 years ago. Today, Tillman serves as an aviation ordnanceman.
“My great-grandfather, Edward Leo Rodgers, who was a senior chief aviation mechanic, inspired me to join the Navy,” Tillman said. “We meet new people often in the Navy, and I enjoy hearing stories from new people.”
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.
Among the largest warships in the world, Theodore Roosevelt 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.
“This aircraft carrier is one of the most powerful warships in the world, but it is our sailors that give the U.S. Navy our warfighting advantage,” said Capt. Will Mathis, commanding officer of Theodore Roosevelt. “For over 250 years, sailors have built the foundation of our readiness and resolve, enabled us to keep America safe and ensured the U.S. Navy remains the strongest and most capable maritime force in the world.”
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.
Tillman has many opportunities to achieve accomplishments during military service.
“I am most proud of my work at my last command, Navy Munitions Command Yokosuka, where we completed 331 onloads and offloads,” Tillman said. “Just being in Japan was a great experience for me. The Japanese citizens I met were very kind and polite. It was wonderful.”
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 gives me a chance to grow as a person, as a leader and as a father of two,” Tillman said.
Tillman is grateful to others for helping make a Navy career possible.
“I want to thank my wife for being my anchor, supporting our family and for helping me pick up good habits that will help my sailors,” Tillman said.
Tillman offered advice for anyone considering a path in the military.
“The military is what you make of it, good or bad; it’s your choice,” Tillman said.