PEARL HARBOR – Petty Officer 3rd Class Nathan Brownlow is serving in the U.S. Navy aboard the guided-missile cruiser, USS Port Royal.

A native of Meridianville, Brownlow graduated from Hazel Green High School in 2011. He has served in the Navy for four years and is a U.S. Navy personnel specialist aboard a guided-missile cruiser operating out of Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. The ship is equipped with a vertical launching system, tomahawk missiles, torpedoes, guns and a phalanx close-in weapons systems.

As a Navy personnel specialist, Brownlow is responsible for all pay and personnel records.

Brownlow credits success in the Navy to many lessons learned back home. “I’m from a small town in south Meridianville so it just taught me about family and caring for your neighbors no matter what race you are,” Brownlow said.

Approximately 300 men and women serve aboard USS Port Royal in highly specialized jobs. Their duties include maintaining gas turbine engines, operating the highly sophisticated Aegis weapons system, driving the ship and operating small boats, according to Navy officials.

For distinctive service, Brownlow earned NPPSC Blue Jacket of the Quarter in 2016 and was promoted to third class petty officer in May 2017. “I was proud for the recognition I never thought I would get. Who doesn’t love money and a higher pay grade, but all my hard work and studying paid off,” he said.

“I’m the first in my family to be in the military,” Brownlow said. “I joined because I wanted to wake up with a purpose and just to serve meant something to me. I always looked at guys in the military like heroes.”

“Every day I wake up with a purpose to serve what may not be a perfect nation but a nation full of good people from all walks of life. To wake up and serve these people makes me smile. Roll Tide!” Brownlow said.

The Navy Office of Community Outreach or NAVCO produced this feature article and photographs. Employees in the outreach office travel the globe to collect and distribute photos to their hometown media.

Chief Mass Communication Specialist Erica R. Gardner documented Brownlow’s work.

The Media Outreach Department with the Navy Office of Community Outreach is located in Millington, Tenn. For more information, visit outreach.navy.mil, Facebook/Navy Outreach, Twitter @NavyOutreach or Instagram @US_Navy_Outreach.