By Stephanie Fox
Navy Office of Community Outreach
NEWPORT, R.I. – Lt. Andrea Thorne-Thomsen, a native of Richardson, Texas, joined the Navy to travel the world and experience new and exciting things while having the opportunity to serve our country.
Now, six years later, Thorne-Thomsen is part of the most innovative tactics at Surface Warfare Officers School (SWOS), located in Newport, Rhode Island.
“I’m an instructor with the International Surface Warfare Officer School and I think one of the most important things we cover are case studies,” said Thorne-Thomsen. “We have discussions about lessons learned and shared experiences, and we’re able to share our knowledge in the classroom.
According to Thorne-Thomsen, the values required to succeed in the military are similar to those found in Richardson.
“In my hometown, there’s such a sense of community and helping each other out,” said Thorne-Thomsen. “For me, that’s what the Navy is all about. We look out for each other, we help each other, and we grow together. We operate as a team.”
Thorne-Thomsen, a 2011 graduate of Richardson High School, is at the school where naval officers learn to serve as surface warfare officers.
“In simple terms, we’re ship drivers,” said Thorne-Thomsen. “We’re also responsible for leading different divisions, which includes managing the people that work in those divisions. We know our ships inside and out and we make sure we are ready not only to face any challenges at sea, but also to fight and win.”
The mission of SWOS is to ready sea-bound warriors to serve on surface combatants to fulfill the Navy’s mission maintaining global maritime superiority.
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Once service members finish training they are deployed around the world putting their skill set to work aboard Navy ships, such as aircraft carriers, cruisers, destroyers, amphibious warfare ships, mine warfare ships and littoral combat ships.
Naval Education and Training Command (NETC), led by Rear Adm. Peter Garvin, is the U.S. Navy’s Force Development pillar and largest shore command. Through its “Street to Fleet” focus, NETC recruits civilians and transforms them into skilled warfighters ready to meet the current and future needs of the U.S. Navy.
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Serving as a surface warfare officer requires a combination of dedication and sacrifice, but Thorne-Thomsen believes the accomplishments achieved along the way make the hard work worth it.
“I’ve had two successful deployments as a navigator,” said Thorne-Thomsen. “I was very proud to see how my navigation team grew and worked together to make those deployments successful.”
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According to the U.S. Naval History and Heritage Command, during the early days of the Surface Navy, wooden frigates, propelled by sails, would fire cannon balls at enemy ships in an attempt to either sink or capture the ships on the open seas, while modern surface warfare conducts a wide variety of missions—from multiple ship classes—including aviation, damage control and seamanship.
Surface warriors are the backbone of America’s Navy and the most capable surface force in the world, explains the U.S. Naval History and Heritage Command: “The United States Navy is known for a colorful and illustrious history with opportunities in numerous warfare communities. But since its inception, the Navy has been known for fighting on the high-seas, and surface warfare remains our heart and soul.”
The future of surface warfare is rapidly changing, according to Navy officials, so the course and materials at Surface Warfare Officer School are constantly evolving to create the most dynamic, lethal, safe and professional warfighting team for the Navy the nation needs.
With more than 90 percent of all trade traveling by sea, and 95 percent of the world’s international phone and internet traffic carried through fiber optic cables lying on the ocean floor, Navy officials continue to emphasize that the prosperity and security of the United States is directly linked to a strong and ready Navy.
According to Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Mike Gilday, four priorities will focus efforts on sailors, readiness, capabilities and capacity.
“For 245 years, in both calm and rough waters, our Navy has stood the watch to protect the homeland, preserve freedom of the seas, and defend our way of life,” said Gilday. “The decisions and investments we make this decade will set the maritime balance of power for the rest of this century. We can accept nothing less than success.”
As Thorne-Thomsen and other surface warriors continue to train, they take pride serving their country in the United States Navy.
“I am part of something that is bigger than myself,” added Thorne-Thomsen. “My parents encouraged me to join the military. I knew I would enjoy both the structure and the opportunities the Navy would give me while giving me the chance to give back and serve my country.”
