SAN DIEGO - Seaman Apprentice Luke Christopherson, a native of Maricopa, Arizona, 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, Fleet Public Affairs Center San Diego |
Christopherson graduated from Maricopa High School in 2022.
The skills and values needed to succeed in the Navy are similar to those found in Maricopa.
“In my hometown, I have met a lot of people that helped me guide my ambition to succeed,” Christopherson said. “I did work a few small jobs before the service. It helped me develop a good work ethic that has carried over to my days in the Navy.”
Christopherson joined the Navy one year ago. Today, Christopherson serves as a yeoman.
“I joined the Navy to expand on my goals in life,” Christopherson said. “I needed to learn discipline in order to make those goals a reality. This is when I decided to serve my country through the Navy.”
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, USS 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.
Christopherson has many opportunities to achieve accomplishments during military service.
“My proudest accomplishment in the Navy is earning my Maintenance and Material Management qualification very quickly,” Christopherson said. “Due to the timely manner in which I earned this, the commanding officer of the Theodore Roosevelt gave me a shoutout over the ship's loud speaker at the end of the day.”
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 has been an interesting and fun experience so far,” Christopherson said. “It is certainly an honor to be able to serve my country. But I can also describe it in another way–it's been an adventure.”
Christopherson is grateful to others for helping make a Navy career possible.
“I would like to thank my younger brother, Joshua,” Christopherson said. “During tough times when we were growing up together, he has always been there for me, continuing to encourage me to keep going and never quit.”
“I would also like to give a shoutout to my high school teacher, Mr. Chamberlin,” Christopherson said. “I was in his computer maintenance class and he saw that I was ambitious and helped me to avoid "scope creep" with my goals. This advice has carried on in my everyday life.”