David LeValley

The Naval Nuclear Power School (NNPS) was established in 1955 as part of the United States Navy’s efforts to develop a highly trained force for its growing fleet of nuclear-powered submarines and ships. Originally located in New London, Connecticut, and later moved to Bainbridge, Maryland, the school finally settled in Charleston, South Carolina, in 1998. NNPS provides rigorous academic instruction in nuclear physics, reactor engineering, and thermodynamics to enlisted personnel and officers selected for service in the Navy’s nuclear propulsion program. The school's graduates have played vital roles in operating and maintaining the Navy's nuclear-powered warships, contributing significantly to the United States’ maritime dominance and strategic deterrence capabilities.

Recruit Training Command Orlando, commonly known as RTC Orlando, was a major United States Navy boot camp located in Orlando, Florida. Opened in 1968, it was established to help meet the growing training demands during the Vietnam War era. RTC Orlando was notable as one of the first Navy training commands to integrate female recruits after the creation of the all-volunteer force in the 1970s. The base trained tens of thousands of sailors until it was closed in 1994 as part of a series of military consolidations, with operations transferred to the remaining Recruit Training Command at Great Lakes, Illinois.

USS Prairie (AD-15) was a Dixie-class destroyer tender commissioned by the United States Navy in 1940. During World War II, she provided vital repair and supply services to destroyers and other vessels in the Pacific Theater, supporting operations at locations such as Pearl Harbor, Eniwetok, and Leyte. After the war, Prairie continued her service during the Korean War and later supported the fleet throughout the Cold War, operating in both the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans. She was decommissioned in 1993, having served the Navy for over five decades.

USS Constellation

U.S. Navy

The USS Constellation was a wooden-hulled, three-masted frigate of the United States Navy. It was launched in 1797 and served in both the Quasi-War and the Barbary Wars. The ship is often considered one of the earliest frigates built for the US Navy and played a significant role in protecting American merchant vessels from attacks by pirates and privateers. The USS Constellation has since been preserved as a museum ship in Baltimore, Maryland, where visitors can learn about its history and tour the decks.

USS Roanoke (AOR-7) was a Wichita-class replenishment oiler commissioned by the United States Navy on 30 October 1976. Designed to provide underway replenishment of fuel, munitions, and stores to naval battle groups, Roanoke served primarily in the Pacific Fleet. Throughout her career, she supported numerous operations and exercises, including deployments to the Western Pacific and Indian Ocean, playing a vital logistical role during peacetime and crisis. After nearly two decades of service, USS Roanoke was decommissioned on 6 October 1995.