SAN DIEGO — The U.S. Naval Community College’s president visited with leadership and enlisted Sailors at U.S. Third Fleet; U.S. Naval Surface Forces, Pacific Fleet; and three naval vessels between Nov. 2 and 3, 2021.
 

President Randi R. Cosentino, Ed.D., discussed operational requirements at sea, access to educational resources, and enlisted Sailors’ and Marines’ interest in education while afloat.
 

“This was a great opportunity to see Sailors in their environment and a very productive visit,” said Cosentino. “These discussions will help the USNCC make a better educational program that takes the deployed and operational Sailor and Marine into consideration in how we can deliver a quality educational model to the fleet.”
 

During her visit aboard the aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN 72), Cosentino talked with Capt. Amy Bauernschmidt, the ship’s commanding officer, about improvements in access for Sailors aboard naval vessels. Cosentino then toured the aviation intermediate maintenance department spaces and spoke with AIMD Sailors who described their jobs, technologies, and capabilities, both in port and at sea. Cosentino said this will help her better understand how to develop the USNCC’s planned Aviation Maintenance Technology degree program planned for 2022.
 

When Cosentino met with senior leaders and Sailors on the amphibious dock landing ship USS Germantown (LSD 42) and the Arleigh Burke-class destroyer USS Paul Hamilton (DDG 60), she was able to understand the difference in expectations for Sailors and Marines deployed at sea while forward-deployed in the U.S. Seventh Fleet area of operations as well as the interests and concerns of junior enlisted service members regarding higher education while at sea.
 

“Being able to interact with those young men and women was the highlight of my visit,” said Cosentino. She also said that this will help her develop a possible educational format that can be implemented into existing shipboard technology to provide access, at a minimum, to the naval core courses offered by the USNCC.