By Lt. Jill Brown, Navy Office of Community Outreach

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – A Houston native is serving with the U.S. Navy’s cutting-edge maritime patrol and reconnaissance aircraft squadron in Jacksonville, Florida.

Master Chief Petty Officer Darnell Williams joined the Navy 20 years ago. Today, Williams serves as a Command Master Chief.

“To earn money for college inspired me to join the Navy,” said Williams. “This was a gift to my mother, so she wouldn’t have to pay for my college.”

Williams serves with Patrol Squadron Five, a high-tech maritime patrol and reconnaissance squadron tasked with monitoring the world’s oceans in the state-of-the-art P-8A “Poseidon.”

Growing up in Houston, Williams attended Spring High School and graduated in 2001. Today, Williams finds the values in Houston similar to those needed to succeed in the military.

“I was a big athlete in varsity football and track in high school,” said Williams. “I learned about discipline and how to maneuver around issues to fix stuff. My stepdad taught me about doing things right the first time.”

These lessons have helped Williams while serving in the Navy supporting the P-8 Poseidon mission.

The P-8 Poseidon mission is to conduct maritime patrol and reconnaissance as well as long-range anti-submarine warfare, anti-surface warfare and intelligence gathering missions. They deploy around the globe to monitor the world’s oceans wherever they are needed.

The P-8A Poseidon, the Navy’s newest maritime, patrol and reconnaissance aircraft, is a replacement aircraft for the legacy P-3C “Orion”. According to Navy officials, leveraging the experience and technology of the successful P-3C “Orion” with the needs of the fleet, the P-8A is designed to be combat-capable, and to improve an operator’s ability to efficiently conduct anti-submarine warfare; anti-surface warfare; and intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance missions.

Serving in the Navy means Williams is part of a world that is taking on new importance in America’s focus on rebuilding military readiness, strengthening alliances and reforming business practices in support of the National Defense Strategy.

“In my time, we've made significant progress to national security,” said Williams. “The Navy is usually the first one to deploy wherever there is trouble. We are the enforcers in the air and at sea.”

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 that the prosperity and security of the United States is directly linked to a strong and ready Navy.

According to Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Mike Gilday, four priorities will focus efforts on sailors, readiness, capabilities, and capacity.

“For 245 years, in both calm and rough waters, our Navy has stood the watch to protect the homeland, preserve freedom of the seas, and defend our way of life,” said Gilday. “The decisions and investments we make this decade will set the maritime balance of power for the rest of this century. We can accept nothing less than success.”

There are many accomplishments that come with military service, and Williams is most proud of the day he advanced to Master Chief Petty Officer.

“I had set a goal in boot camp to make Master Chief,” said Williams. “The fact that I made Master Chief in 17 years is the highest goal I could set for myself. This is the pinnacle of an enlisted career.”

As Williams and other sailors continue to train, they take pride in serving their country in the United States Navy.

“To be able to wear the cloth of my nation and sacrifice what I have to keep people safe,” added Williams. “To me, there is no greater honor.”