One Mid Explores the Ocean During the "Coolest Internship in the World"

Midshipman 2nd Class Julia Arthur knows what it means to set a goal and achieve it. Read more about how an amazing high school experience set her on the path to the Naval Academy and an opportunity to hone her oceanographic and leadership skills.

Three years ago when I was still in high school, I embarked on my first truly remarkable summer adventure.

First, I spent a week at Naval Academy Summer Seminar (NASS) following around a 3/C midshipman who seemed to embody everything I wanted to be two years later.

Immediately following NASS, I began a seven-week internship called the Honors Research Program. HRP included five weeks working on a research project ashore and two weeks embarked on the Exploration Vessel Nautilus in the Mediterranean Sea.

MIDN 2/C Julia Arthur, left, and MIDN 1/C Rachel Berger on board Nautilus
(Photo by Katie Bryden)

Nautilus is owned by the Ocean Exploration Trust, established by Dr. Robert Ballard – former naval officer and best known as the man who found the RMS Titanic and German battleship Bismarck, countless other shipwrecks, and discovered oceanographic breakthroughs such as hydrothermal vents.

By the time I returned home for my senior year of high school in September 2012, I had decided a few important things: USNA was my top choice of colleges, I wanted to study some form of oceanography, and I wanted to find a way to get back aboard the Nautilus at some point in the near future.

It is now September 2015. I am beginning my second class year, working through my major in oceanography, beginning my own research, and have only recently finished a five week internship back aboard Nautilus through the Oceanography Department – this time as a navigation intern beginning in the Galapagos Islands and transiting to San Diego, CA.

The Nautilus navigation and bridge teams with MIDN 2/C Julia Arthur and
MIDN 1/C Rachel Berger (Photo by Katie Bryden)

I don’t know exactly how my high school self would react to how well my decisions from the fall of 2012 have worked out, but it’s safe to assume that I would have been nothing short of euphoric. Honestly, my current self is pretty euphoric about it, too!

Now, if you told my 17-year-old self what exactly I got to do while aboard Nautilus this summer, I might legitimately have lost my mind. Over the course of the few weeks spent on Nautilus around the islands, we discovered potentially new species of fish and extremely rare corals, explored 14-meter-tall hydrothermal vent spires, and took enough biologic and geologic samples to fill multiple shipping pallets.

And while science was the focus, these highlights don’t even begin to cover the time spent on the islands visiting lava tubes, swimming in “Las Grietas” lava fissure, touring the Charles Darwin Research Station, watching the eruption of Wolf Volcano, and enjoying the ubiquitous fur seals, birds, lizards, and tortoises native to the islands.

MIDN 2/C Julia Arthur with Dr. Robert Ballard
on board Nautilus
(Photoby Katie Bryden)

My second tour aboard Nautilus was not only my favorite summer training thus far, but also one of the most beneficial. My five weeks aboard gave me a great deal more than just experience in the navigator’s seat. Nautilus taught me what it takes to coordinate the position of a more than 200-foot ship with two large remotely-operated vehicles thousands of meters underwater; how to manage the completion of dive objectives while also understanding the dynamic and unpredictable nature of exploration; and adaptability, communication, and a type of real-world management and leadership that is difficult for the academy to provide to a 2/C midshipman during the school year.

The friends I made on Nautilus as a high school student have also taught me the unparalleled importance of quality mentorship. Nautilus’ “Corps of Exploration” is truly filled with men and women who are experts in their respective fields, and since leaving Nautilus in 2012, those men and women have provided ceaseless guidance, encouragement, and support.

This type of mentorship is exactly the “4,500 training 4,500” mindset the academy strives for, and I hope to have the opportunity to use my successes and failures as a student, athlete, explorer, and midshipman to mentor someone who hopes to find themselves in a position similar to mine one day.

For now, you can follow along with what Nautilus is exploring live on NautilusLive.org.

Air Force Training Program?

You don't want to miss this recently declassified footage of Navy's Air Force training program, designed to transition cadets to midshipmen life.

CYBERCOM Deputy Commander Speaks at USNA

Lt. Gen. James K. McLaughlin, deputy commander, U.S. Cyber Command (USCYBERCOM), spoke at the Cyber Lecture Series at the U.S. Naval Academy (USNA), Sept. 22.

McLaughlin addressed more than 1,200 midshipmen about the importance of cyber operations awareness throughout their naval careers.

"Many of you will go to units where your mission will not be cyber operations or cyber warfare, but as you become more senior, it won't matter what the title is in your position, you will be held accountable and responsible for cyber operations," said McLaughlin. "What's changing culturally is we are holding those commanders, those leaders, personally accountable for how they operate, how they train and if they are doing everything they are supposed to [in the cyber domain]."

McLaughlin, a U.S. Air Force Academy graduate, directs the forces and daily activities of USCYBERCOM and coordinates the Department of Defense (DOD) offensive and defensive cyberspace operations. He discussed the USCYBERCOM mission and why it's necessary to keep equipment up to date. 

"The most important mission of Cyber Command is defending the Department of Defense Information Network, which includes networks that support war fighters, Ballistic Missile Defense, support logistics sustainment etc...", said McLaughlin. "If it is connected with computers or has embedded controllers in it, it is part of that network. We are spending billions of dollars upgrading decades-old systems and securing and defending them. If we don't, we won't be able to succeed in warfare." 

McLaughlin also outlined the Defense Department's effort in building a joint information environment - a joint network that the cyber workforce can see - and operate and defend -- in its entirety. The other two cyber missions include providing full-spectrum options to combatant commanders, and to be prepared, when called upon, to defend U.S. critical infrastructure. 

27 midshipmen of the class of 2016 make up the first group who will graduate from USNA with the Cyber Operations Major. These midshipmen will quickly learn to apply their learning in the rapidly changing cyber environment. 

"We want to have our own people who have the ability to rapidly build, modify and deploy changes to the systems," said McLaughlin. "We don't really view it as an acquisition, but as an inherent life within the weapon system itself, by having the modifications done by our own forces. And our operators do that."

The DOD is building its cyber mission force to 133 teams, across all services, by 2018. McLaughlin stressed that only the most capable individuals will be a part of the well-trained teams.

McLaughlin explained that USCYBERCOM sets the joint standards as the Services organize, train and equip the cyber forces. "There will be 68 defensive teams and 65 offensive teams made up of all branches of the military," he said. "There is such a joint venture in this operation that if you can't perform the tasks needed by the role, you won't be on a team." 

USNA identified the critical role that cyber would serve in support of DoD missions, and as such, USNA already broke ground earlier this year, starting a series of projects progressing to the building its 206,000-square-foot Center for Cyber Security Studies. 

The center will provide the support necessary for the proposed curricular and professional reforms across USNA, and for advancing the quality of education of Naval Academy graduates in all areas of cyber warfare. 

Annapolis Mayor Gets Underway with USNA Midshipmen

Annapolis Mayor Michael J. Pantelides received a crash course in seamanship and navigation during a visit to the Naval Academy Sept. 22.

During the visit, Pantelides built upon previous interactions with USNA midshipmen and had the opportunity to learn about and participate in the activities of the Yard Patrol (YP) Squadron.

The event, hosted by Marine Corps Col. Steven Liszewski, commandant of midshipmen, provided a platform from which to broaden exposure of the activities of the YP Squadron and the standard of instruction provided by the Seamanship and Navigation Department (SEANAV).

“It’s a great honor to have the mayor come down to see what we do here on the academy side of town,” said Lt. Cmdr. Peter Ware, British Royal Naval officer and SEANAV operations officer. “He is getting exposure to what the Yard Patrol squadron helps us to do in terms of developing the midshipmen’s ship handling, seafaring and leadership skills.”

During the visit, the mayor was able to experience firsthand how ship navigation training is conducted at the academy from the classroom to the simulators to open water aboard YP-708.

“I’m loving the Naval Academy experience, and I’m thoroughly impressed with both the staff and midshipmen,” said Pantelides. “I’ve lived here my whole life, but I’ve never had the opportunity to drive a destroyer in the simulators or go out on the YPs and see the training firsthand.”

While underway, Pantelides spoke with members of the YP crew, learned about the many different leadership and operational roles aboard the ship, and even had the opportunity to participate in practical training drills.

“I think it’s a great opportunity to show what we do and what we represent to the people of Annapolis,” said Midshipman 1st Class David Van Vleet. “The mayor is a great resource and a great friend to us here at the Naval Academy.”

Pantelides was elected mayor of Annapolis in November 2013, becoming the city’s first Republican mayor since 1997. He credits his campaign’s success to the volunteer work done by the city’s diverse community, something Annapolis prides itself on. During his time in office, he has worked with the Naval Academy in multiple community service and volunteer capacities.