LEMOORE, Calif. - Every sailor’s story of naval service is unique. For Petty Officer 2nd Class Ian Glaeser, this story has ties to Olympia, Washington, where skills and values learned there are foundational to success in the Navy.
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| Photo by Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Mitch Meppelink |
“A lot of what I learned comes from my dad being in the Navy,” Glaeser said. “Some of the things we learn in boot camp, things like the core values of honor, courage and commitment, and integrity, doing the right thing and doing it right the first time, are big things in everyday life and in aviation maintenance. We always make sure our paperwork is filled out right and that we’re following the technical publications so we don’t have to rework anything. A lot of that I learned from my parents. My dad was deployed a lot, so my mom would have to pick up from when he would leave. Watching her do that taught me to be independent.”
Growing up in a Navy family, Glaeser moved frequently. Glaeser graduated in 2016 from Millington High School in Tennessee.
Glaeser joined the Navy eight years ago.
“I joined the Navy mostly because of my dad,” Glaeser said. “He was an operations specialist in the Navy for 24 years and retired as a senior chief. I was inspired by his service, it was always something in the back of my mind that I could do.”
Today, Glaeser serves as an aviation structural mechanic assigned to the “Flying Eagles” of Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 122 onboard Naval Air Station (NAS) Lemoore.
NAS Lemoore is home to Commander Strike Fighter Wing Pacific and Commander Joint Strike Fighter Wing. More than half of the Navy’s F/A-18E/F Super Hornet aircraft reside here, and it is the only Navy installation to house the F-35C Lightning II.
Carrier strike groups and the embarked aviation squadrons are the cornerstone of U.S. naval power projection and sea power. They can quickly maneuver thousands of miles with the world’s most capable warships and top-notch sailors, remaining on station in areas of interest without relying on land bases or overflight agreements. U.S. Navy aircraft carriers are the most adaptable, lethal and survivable airfields in the world and their presence serves as the most credible commitment to our allies and partners.
Naval aviation provides the Navy and our nation with a flexible, adaptable, and lethal force to preserve peace, respond in crises and win decisively in combat. The U.S. Navy maintains and operates more than 2,000 aircraft to fulfill various mission sets in order to preserve the American way of life and ensure freedom, security and 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.
Glaeser has many opportunities to achieve accomplishments during military service.
“I’m proud of being a troubleshooter at my last command and serving where my dad served, aboard USS Carl Vinson and USS John Stennis, and now here at Lemoore,” Glaeser said. “Being a troubleshooter is the culmination of being a maintainer in a way. They want the best of the best. You usually get picked for that because they need someone who is qualified and knows what they’re doing. Usually becoming a troubleshooter is the top position to have as a maintainer.”
While serving in the same places as his father wasn’t intentional, it still provided good memories for Glaeser.
“It’s neat to say I went to all the places my dad went and met people my dad knew,” Glaeser said. “It came full circle on my last deployment aboard the Vinson. There was a change of command ceremony and the incoming commodore knew my dad. They met at TOP GUN where my dad had been an Air Intercept Controller and the incoming commodore had been a student. My dad sent me a picture of them together and I showed it to him. He thought it was wild and after that he always asked about my dad when he saw me.”
Glaeser serves a Navy that operates far forward, around the world and around the clock, promoting the nation’s prosperity and security.
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. More information is available here: https://www.navy.mil/navy-250/
“Serving in the Navy gives me a sense of purpose,” Glaeser said. “It’s a job and it gives me something to do. It’s very hands-on.”
Glaeser is grateful to others for helping make a Navy career possible.
“I want to thank my parents, Lisa and Greg,” Glaeser said. “My entire family were big supporters, but my parents were the two biggest supporters out of all of them. My dad was a big help when I was getting started in the Navy. I also want to thank my wife, Kayla. She’s been a huge support since she’s gotten roped into this.”