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KINGS BAY, Ga. (Dec. 5, 2012) Lt. j.g. Luke Leveque, assigned to the Gold crew of the ballistic missile submarine USS Maryland (SSBN 738) pins the submarine officer warfare device on his wife, Lt. j.g. Marquette Leveque, assigned to the Gold crew of the ballistic missile submarine USS Wyoming (SSBN 742), at Naval Submarine Base Kings Bay. Leveque is one of three Sailors to become the first female unrestricted line officers to qualify in submarines. U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class James Kimber
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NORFOLK (NNS - 12/5/2012) -- Three Sailors assigned to USS Maine
(SSBN 741) and USS Wyoming (SSBN 742) became the first female
unrestricted line officers to qualify in submarines Dec. 5.
Lt. j.g. Marquette Leveque, a native of Fort Collins, Colo.,
assigned to the Gold Crew of Wyoming, and Lt. j.g. Amber Cowan and
Lt. j.g. Jennifer Noonan of Maine's Blue Crew received their
submarine "dolphins" during separate ceremonies at Naval Submarine
Base Kings Bay, Ga., and Naval Base Kitsap-Bangor, Wash.
In
order to receive their dolphins, Leveque, Cowan and Noonan were
required to qualify as Officer of the Deck and Engineering Officer
of the Watch, perform damage control functions, and demonstrate
satisfactory qualities of leadership.
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Cowan, a native of Colorado Springs, Colo., and Noonan, who hails
from Boston, joined two other Blue Crew officers - Lt. j.g. James
Barclay and Lt. j.g. John Schaeffer - in receiving their dolphins.
Cowan was pinned by her husband, Naval Flight Officer Lt. Adam
Cowan. Noonan chose a former Maine shipmate and mentor, Lt. Jason
Brethauer, to pin her dolphins. Schaeffer decided to have Lt. Joe
Westfall, a current shipmate from the Blue Crew, conduct his
pinning. The Commanding officer of Maine's Blue Crew, Cmdr. William
Johnson, pinned Barclay.
"I am honored to participate in today's ceremony honoring these four
fine officers who have proven themselves over the past year," said
Johnson. "They are truly worthy to join in the great legacy of
submariners that have gone before us as 'qualified in submarines.'"
In Kings Bay, Leveque, along with fellow Gold Crew officer Lt.
j.g. Kyle E. McFadden, participated in a ceremony presided by Cmdr.
Christopher Nash, commanding officer of Wyoming's Gold Crew. Leveque
was pinned by her husband, Lt. j.g. Luke Leveque, a qualified
submariner onboard the ballistic missile submarine USS Maryland
(SSBN 738). McFadden was pinned at the ceremony by Nash.
"Today was a very special occasion. It was special because two
talented young officers earned the right to lead the next generation
of submarine sailors in the most capable Navy the world has ever
known. It was also special because these young leaders fully
represent the future of our nation's technical talent," said Nash.
Leveque, Cowan and Noonan are three of 24 women - 17 line
officers and seven supply officers - assigned to Maine, Wyoming, USS
Ohio (SSGN 726) and USS Georgia (SSGN 729). Maine and Ohio are
homeported in Bangor, while Wyoming and Georgia are homeported in
Kings Bay.
"I am honored to be joining the long tradition of
the submarine force by earning my dolphins and excited for the
journey to come. I could not have accomplished this without the help
of the wardroom and crew of the USS Wyoming," said Leveque.
Leveque, Cowan and Noonan have each completed strategic deterrent
patrols aboard their respective submarines.
"Qualifying is a
huge accomplishment for any submariner, and it feels no different
for me," said Noonan. "I am thrilled to finally be a member of this
elite community. I'm particularly grateful to my crew, officers and
enlisted, for supporting me and holding me to the same standards as
those who have gone before me. I look forward to being able to fully
contribute to the crew now that I'm a qualified submarine officer."
"Qualification in Submarines is more of a personal achievement,"
said Cowan. "It requires understanding of the many facets of
submarine life and has you perform so many skills that when I take a
step back and look at everything that I have done and what this
qualification means I will do, it is pretty amazing. I see it as
that point where I have demonstrated the knowledge and the instinct
to perform safely and smartly in all areas of the ship and its
missions. Ultimately, it is a monumental mark of the confidence my
command and crew has in me. And earning that respect and acceptance
is a feeling that I will hold with me for my entire life."
Prior to reporting to their boats beginning in November 2011,
Leveque, Cowan, Noonan and the other women assigned to Ohio, Maine,
Wyoming and Georgia graduated from the Submarine Officer Basic
Course in Groton, Conn. In addition, the submarine line officers
under instruction graduated from the Naval Nuclear Power School at
Charleston, S.C., and underwent naval nuclear prototype training.
More photos available below
By Navy Commander, Submarine Forces Public Affairs
Navy News Service
Copyright 2012
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