Queen, Oliver, Jr., LT

PLEASE DESCRIBE WHO OR WHAT INFLUENCED YOUR DECISION TO JOIN THE NAVY.
I joined the Navy back in 1992 to have a chance to make it out of Thibodaux, LA. I loved living there, but Thibodaux is a small town, where most people have small dreams. I did not want to be infected with the idea that small dreams are OK. I wanted more. I did not know what I was getting into when I joined the Navy, and I definitely did not know what I was doing when I joined the submarine force. However, with all my trials and tribulations, I stand proud of the decisions I made to keep going and thus, it has been of great benefit to my professional career in the Navy and my personal life.

WHETHER YOU WERE IN THE SERVICE FOR SEVERAL YEARS OR AS A CAREER, PLEASE DESCRIBE THE DIRECTION OR PATH YOU TOOK. WHERE DID YOU GO TO BOOT CAMP AND WHAT UNITS, BASES, SHIPS OR SQUADRONS WERE YOU ASSIGNED TO? WHAT WAS YOUR REASON FOR LEAVING?
In a nutshell:
--Joined the Navy in 1992 via Recruiting District New Orleans, LA
--Attended RTC Great Lakes from August until October 1992.
--Attended NTTC Meridian MS SK"A" School October to December 1992.
--Attended NAVSUBSCHOOL Groton, CT January to February 1993.
--Reported to USS LOS ANGELES SSN-688 Mare Island, CA March 1993
--Went TAD onboard the USS ASHEVILLE SSN-758 to earn silver dolphins Jun to Sept 1993 in San Diego, CA.
--Reported back to USS LOS ANGELES SSN-688 in Sept 1993. We conducted a homeport change in March 1995 to Pearl Harbor, HI. Remained onboard until August 1996.
--Reported to PMO DET Norfolk in Sept 1996 as a COSAL Analysis group member and Fleet Expeditor. Also, reported TAD to USS ALBANY SSN-754 as Asst. LPO for 3 months from Oct to Dec 1996. Left PMO Det in Sept 1999.
--Reported to USS WEST VIRGINIA SSBN-736 BLUE Kingsbay, GA in Oct 1999. Here, I was promoted to PO1 and was the SK Division Leading First Class PO. I qualified Diving Officer of the Watch and Chief of the Watch while onboard. We also won three consecutive Blue "E" awards for Supply Excellence. Left the boat
--Reported to Submarine Training Facility, Norfolk, VA (SUBTRAFAC) in Feb 2003 to Feb 2006. Qualified as a Firefighting and Damage control instructor, Master Training Specialist, Command Duty Officer, Lead Instructor, Emergency Medical Technician, and Firefighting Safety Chief. Also, made CPO in 2004 (1st time up) and became the Director, Learning Standards Office and the Assistant Director of Training for SUBTRAFAC. Selected in 2004 and 2005 as Senior Instructor of the Year.
--Reported to USS DALLAS SSN-700 in Groton, CT in March 2006 until Feb 2007 as Supply Department CPO. Certified as SEAL Delivery Diving Officer of the Watch and completed a MED/CENTCOM deployment. Selected for OCS while onboard.
--Reported to OCS Pensacola, FL (Class 14-07) from March to Jun 2007. commissioned as a Naval Supply Officer on 15 June 2007.
--Reported to Supply Officer School (BQC) in Athens, GA after HARP duty in VA in Oct 2007 until April 2008. Also, attended Div-O and Department Head School in Athens, GA.
--Reported to USS NEW MEXICO SSN-779 in Newport News, VA as Supply Officer/Food Service Officer from May 2008 Until Nov 2010. Qualified as submarine PILOT and received my "gold Dolphins" while onboard. Was the 1st Supply Office onboard USS NEW MEXICO and successfully transferred her from a pre-com hull to an active war-fighting submarine in the fleet.
--Selected for a Navy Acquisition and Contracting Officer (NACO) internship at NAS Patuxent River, MD. reported in Nov 2010. PRD is Dec 2012.

IF YOU PARTICIPATED IN ANY MILITARY OPERATIONS, INCLUDING COMBAT, HUMANITARIAN AND PEACEKEEPING OPERATIONS, PLEASE DESCRIBE THOSE WHICH MADE A LASTING IMPACT ON YOU AND, IF LIFE-CHANGING, IN WHAT WAY?
--Operation Enduring Freedom

OF ALL YOUR DUTY STATIONS OR ASSIGNMENTS, WHICH ONE DO YOU HAVE FONDEST MEMORIES OF AND WHY? WHICH WAS YOUR LEAST FAVORITE?
All of them, because I have met some really good people. However, USS LOS ANGELES SSN-688 stands out because of the death of MMFN (SS)Dennis O'Brien. RIP my shipmate.

FROM YOUR ENTIRE MILITARY SERVICE, DESCRIBE ANY MEMORIES YOU STILL REFLECT BACK ON TO THIS DAY.
Recognizing I could do or be anything if I wanted. I started out as an E-1 and now I am an O-3E (prior CPO) working on a PhD while still on active duty. That's awesome.

WHAT PROFESSIONAL ACHIEVEMENTS ARE YOU MOST PROUD OF FROM YOUR MILITARY CAREER?
no

OF ALL THE MEDALS, AWARDS, FORMAL PRESENTATIONS AND QUALIFICATION BADGES YOU RECEIVED, OR OTHER MEMORABILIA, WHICH ONE IS THE MOST MEANINGFUL TO YOU AND WHY?
None of medals are meaningful, however, the medals i was able to help obtain for my Sailors mean the most to me.

WHICH INDIVIDUAL(S) FROM YOUR TIME IN THE MILITARY STAND OUT AS HAVING THE MOST POSITIVE IMPACT ON YOU AND WHY?
SKCS (SS) Larry Wright--The greatest SK LPO ever
CMDCM (SS) Kirk Crawley--awesome man
CMDCM (SS) Rick Pugsley--motivated me to obtain my educational goals
All the CPO's at SUBTRAFAC Norfolk, VA.--changed my perception of the what a true CPO is supposed to be.