Historic! Jamaican-Born Woman Now Commands US Navy Destroyer
There must be something special about Jamaicans!
It is truly remarkable how Jamaicans are always able to rise to the top of their fields wherever they go.
On May 2nd, 2016, Commander Janice G. Smith became the first immigrant of Jamaican descent to command a US Navy destroyer.
This after she assumed command of the Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Oscar Austin (DDG 79) during a recently held ceremony at Naval Station Norfolk, Virgina.
Smith hails form St Catherine – the Morris Hall District, and migrated to the Florida with her family nearly thirty years ago (1988).
Just a year after moving to the United States she was enrolled in the Navy as a mess management specialist.
The Arleigh Burke class of guided missile destroyers (DDGs) is the United States Navy’s first class of destroyer built around the Aegis Combat System and the SPY-1D multi-function passive electronically scanned array radar.
The class is named for Admiral Arleigh Burke, the most famous American destroyer officer of World War II, and later Chief of Naval Operations.
Smith’s appointment also makes her the second woman of African-American descent to command a destroyer and Oscar Austin’s first female commanding officer.
Source: navy.mil
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