BATH, MN (WHTC-AM/FM) — U.S. Navy Petty Officer 3rd Class Nicholas Stevenson, a 2014 Grand Haven High School graduate and Grand Haven native, is serving as part of the pre-commissioning Unit for the future Arleigh Burke-class destroyer, USS Thomas Hudner (DDG 116).
Stevenson is a gas turbine systems technician assigned to DDG 116 in Bath, Maine.Stevenson is responsible for the ship’s turbine engines, engine room readiness and safety, and fuel.“I enjoy getting my hands dirty and learning how to fix new equipment,” said Stevenson in a statement emailed to media. DDG 116 is currently undergoing tests and trials in preparation for delivery to the U.S. Navy from shipbuilder Bath Iron Works. Arleigh Burke class destroyers measure approximately 500 feet long and are powered by four gas turbines that allow the ship to achieve over 30 mph in open seas.
Destroyers are tactical multi-mission surface combatants capable of conducting anti-air warfare, anti-submarine warfare, anti-surface warfare, and ballistic missile defense, as well as humanitarian assistance.
Fast, maneuverable, and technically advanced, destroyers provide the required warfighting expertise and operational flexibility to execute a variety of missions.The ship is named for a naval aviator, Capt. Thomas J. Hudner Jr., who received the Medal of Honor from President Harry S. Truman for uncommon valor during an attack on his element leader, the first African American naval aviator to fly in combat, Ensign Jesse L. Brown.
On May 7, 2012, “Secretary Mabus announced that DDG 116 will be named in Captain Hudner’s honor,” said said Cmdr. Nathan W. Scherry, commanding officer, in the statement. “Today, as the Navy’s finest 300 Sailors crew the 66th Arleigh Burke Class Destroyer, they do so with a tremendous amount of honor, pride, and sense of duty. We are extremely honored to be able to carry Capt. Hudner’s values and legacy forward so that they are never forgotten. We are proud to be able to carry out our missions in defense of our country’s freedom and values, and humbled to be part of the Hudner family.”Stevenson has carried lessons learned from his hometown into his military service.”I learned from my work at a pizza place in Grand Haven that it pays off to be a hard worker,” said Stevenson. “People take notice.”With a crew of over 300 sailors, each crew member’s job is important to the smooth operation of the ship. The jobs range from weapon handling to navigation.Stevenson has military ties with family members who have previously served and is honored to carry on the family tradition.“My stepfather was in the Army,” said Stevenson.Stevenson’s proudest accomplishments include being the first qualified search-and-rescue swimmer on the Thomas Hudner, and getting selected as the bluejacket of the quarter for 2018’s second quarter.“I was first out of six people on Hudner to attend a search and rescue swimmer school and qualify,” Stevenson said. “It was challenging, and I learned a lot.”Close living conditions build strong fellowship among the crew, according to U.S. Navy officials. The crew is highly motivated, and quickly adapt to changing conditions. It is a busy life of specialized work, watches, and drills, they said/As a member of one of the U.S. Navy’s newest ships, Stevenson and other sailors know they are part of a legacy that will last beyond their lifetimes providing the Navy the nation needs.“To me, serving in today’s Navy means helping my country and making my family proud,” said Stevenson. “I feel that I am building a better future and excelling in life.”The construction of the ship is over 98 percent complete, according to U.S. Navy officials, and is set for commissioning in late 2018 in Boston. Learn more at http://www.usshudnerddg116.org.
