SAN DIEGO – A 2012 Spring High School graduate and Spring, Texas native is serving on one of the world’s largest warships, USS Carl Vinson.

Seaman Marissa Wright is serving aboard the San-Diego based ship, the third Nimitz-class nuclear-powered aircraft carrier and one of only 11 operational aircraft carriers in the Navy today.

Working in security, Wright is responsible primarily for the wellbeing of the ship. Working with the masters at arms, she ensures safety throughout the ship and on the pier..

Sailors’ jobs are highly varied aboard Vinson. Approximately 3,000 men and women make up the ship’s company, and they keep all parts of the aircraft carrier running. They do everything from preparing meals to handling weaponry and maintaining the nuclear reactors. Additionally, another 2,000 sailors comprise the air wing. These are the people who fly and maintain the aircraft embarked aboard the ship.

Wright has carried lessons learned from her hometown into her military service.

“Growing up my parents taught me the importance of practicing patience on a daily basis. Hard work and dedication was also instilled. If you are complacent you won’t get anywhere in life. If you want something done, you really have to do it yourself. I also learned to make sure you are putting your all into everything. As I Interact with sailors on a daily basis, these values are very helpful,” she said.

Vinson, like each of the Navy’s aircraft carriers, is designed for a 50-year service life. When the air wing is embarked, the ship carries more than 60 attack fighter jets, helicopters and other aircraft, all of which take off from and land aboard the carrier at sea.

Powerful catapults slingshot the aircraft off the bow of the ship, and those planes land upon their return to the aircraft carrier by snagging a steel cable with an arresting hook that protrudes from the rear of the aircraft. All of this makes Vinson a self-contained mobile airport and strike platform, often the first response to a global crisis because of an aircraft carrier’s ability to operate freely in international waters anywhere on the world’s oceans.

The ship was commissioned in 1982 and named after former Georgia Congressman, Carl Vinson. A member of the United States House of Representatives for 50 years, he was, for 29 years, the Chairman of the House Naval Affairs and Armed Services Committee. Vinson was the principal sponsor of the so-called "Vinson Acts," culminating in the Two-Ocean Navy Act of 1940, which provided for the massive naval shipbuilding effort in World War II.

“Carl Vinson was a visionary congressman,” said Capt. Douglas Verissimo, commanding officer of USS Carl Vinson. “His support led to a stronger Navy that was pivotal in winning World War II and the Cold War. Our Sailors embody his commitment to service and bring to life a warship that has been an enduring asset to America’s defense for more than 35 years.”

Wright has military ties with family members who have previously served and is honored to carry on the family tradition.

“One of my uncles is currenlty serving as a Marine. My aunt and another uncle both retired from the Navy after 30 years. They are the ones who motivated me to pursue the Navy as a career. They keep encouraging me to stay the course and finish the race,” she said. “I believe I’m following in the footsteps of people who sacrificed their time and family to accomplish great things. This gives me a great sense of pride and responsibility.”

Wright’s proudest accomplishment was making it through security academy.

“Learning differnet things, shooting weapons, being taught how deal with different types of attitudes in different situations was a great experience. Finishing gave me sense of pride accomplishment,” she added.

As a member of one of the U.S. Navy’s most relied upon assets, Wright and other Vinson sailors know they are part of a legacy that will last beyond their lifetimes.

“Serving in the Navy means honor, courage and commitment. It means serving my country. A small percentage of Americans serve in the military and it gives me a great sense of pride to be part of that, because I love what I do,” said Wright.