A Surface Warfare Officer, or “SWO” (pronounced “swoah”), is often described as a “jack of all trades, master of none.” Our two main responsibilities during our first couple of years are to learn how to lead teams in driving a warship and how to lead our assigned division in accomplishing the administrative and operational tasks required to keep the ship properly manned, trained and deployable. I wanted to be a “SWO Nuke” because I wanted the chance to be part of a uniquely close-knit, hard-working team of nuclear trained sailors who, as “surface nukes,” happen to work on board aircraft carriers — much cooler than windowless subs.

One of the most memorable experiences I had in the Navy was participating in “live fire” exercises. We tested all weapons, including harpoon missiles, vertical launching system missiles, five-inch guns and the close-in weapons system on our ship, a guided missile destroyer. I orchestrated the preparation and firing of our Super Rapid Bloom Offboard Countermeasures Chaff and Decoy Launching System. It was a unique and significant responsibility for a fresh college graduate to have.

As a Division Officer, I enjoyed being exposed to various project and personnel challenges. I’d met some incredibly genuine and inspiring people who shaped me into who I am today. I hoped to continue meeting new people and formalize the “soft skills” in management I’d learned in the Navy. So I wanted to pursue an MBA within a few years of getting out of the military.