By Senior Chief Mass Communication Specialist John Osborne, Navy Office of Community Outreach
MAYPORT, FL — – Ensign James Wright, a native of Hollywood, Florida, serves aboard USS Billings, a U.S. Navy warship operating out of Mayport, Florida.
The skills and values needed to succeed in the Navy are similar to those found in Hollywood.
“Growing up in the South, I learned the importance of hard work,” Wright said. “Getting up early and sticking to a plan is important.”
Wright joined the Navy 13 years ago. Today, Wright serves as a repair officer.
“I joined looking for other opportunities besides college,” Wright said.
A Littoral Combat Ship (LCS), USS Billings is a fast and agile warship designed to operate in near-shore environments to counter 21st-century threats. Crews aboard the ship can operate unmanned aerial systems and unmanned underwater vehicles. These ships can operate independently or in high-threat scenarios as part of a networked battle force that includes larger, multi-mission surface combatants such as cruisers and destroyers.
The U.S. Navy is celebrating its 250th birthday this year.
According to Navy officials, “America is a maritime nation and for 250 years, America’s Warfighting Navy has sailed the globe in defense of freedom.”
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.
Wright has many opportunities to achieve accomplishments during military service.
“My proudest accomplishment in the Navy is earning a commission,” Wright said. “I started my Navy journey as an enlisted submariner and went to the University of South Carolina Naval ROTC program.”
Wright serves a Navy that operates far forward, around the world and around the clock, promoting the nation’s prosperity and security.
“The Navy offers an opportunity to start a legacy of military service while helping ensure my family is safe back home,” Wright said. “I’m the first person that I know of who has served in the military.”
Wright is grateful to others for helping make a Navy career possible.
“I want to thank my dad, James Wright, my mom, Katrina Lewis, and my grandparents, Norman and Karen Carswell,” Wright said. “Most especially, I want to thank my wife, Kolby Williams-Wright, for her unwavering support.
“I’d also like to send a shoutout to my mentor, Master Chief Robert Perry,” Wright added.”
