By Petty Officer 1st Class Patricia Rodriguez, Navy Office of Community Outreach
NORFOLK, Va. – Seaman Samuel Ikome, a native of Owings Mills, Maryland, serves aboard the Navy’s newest warship operating out of Norfolk, Virginia. USS Fort Lauderdale, an amphibious transport dock ship, was commissioned July 30 in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.
“If there is one thing that history has shown us from the days of antiquity it is that the stakes of the competition for control of the seas are high and for our part, USS Fort Lauderdale stands ready to deliver on any day, and at any time,” said Capt. James Quaresimo, the ship’s commanding officer. “And those that may wish to challenge us – they should pause. For we are equipped with America’s unstoppable secret weapon that our enemies will never be able to duplicate and that is the fierce, dedicated and unstoppable, men and women of the United States Navy and Marine Corps!”
Ikome joined the Navy one years ago. Today, Ikome serves as a retail service specialist.
“I joined because I wanted to travel while having a stable job with structure,” said Ikome.
Growing up in Owings Mills, Ikome attended Owings Mills High School and graduated in 2019. Today, Ikome relies upon skills and values similar to those found in Owings Mills to succeed in the military.
“My mom taught me to be kind, understanding and to respect my elders,” said Ikome.
These lessons have helped Ikome while serving aboard USS Fort Lauderdale.
Amphibious transport dock ships are warships used to transport and land Marines, their equipment, and supplies by embarked Landing Craft Air Cushion or conventional landing craft and amphibious assault vehicles augmented by helicopters or vertical take-off and landing aircraft. These ships support amphibious assault, special operations, or expeditionary warfare missions and serve as secondary aviation platforms for amphibious operations.
Serving in the Navy means Ikome is part of a team that is taking on new importance in America’s focus on strengthening alliances, modernizing capabilities, increasing capacities and maintaining military readiness in support of the National Defense Strategy.
“Throughout history, we wouldn’t be able to fight at sea and protect freedom of navigation,” said Ikome.
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 the importance of accelerating America’s advantage at sea.
“Maintaining the world’s best Navy is an investment in the security and prosperity of the United States, as well as the stability of our world,” said Adm. Mike Gilday, Chief of Naval Operations. “The U.S. Navy—forward deployed and integrated with all elements of national power—deters conflict, strengthens our alliances and partnerships, and guarantees free and open access to the world’s oceans. As the United States responds to the security environment through integrated deterrence, our Navy must continue to deploy forward and campaign with a ready, capable, combat-credible fleet.”
Ikome and the sailors they serve with have many opportunities to achieve accomplishments during their military service.
“I’m really proud of being a part of commissioning the ship,” said Ikome. “Having a hand in the process of it being built, attending the commissioning ceremony and knowing that you are one of only hundreds who got to be a part of something so big, is something I will never forget.”
As Ikome and other sailors continue to train and perform missions, they take pride in serving their country in the United States Navy.
“Serving means everything to me,” added Ikome. “I really enjoy my job. If I wasn’t in the Navy, I’d probably have a job that I hate for the sake of having a job.”
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