From Central Appalachia to Asia and back again, U.S. Navy Veteran plies trade as writer with U.S. Army medical materiel development team [Image 13 of 15]

FORT DETRICK, MD, UNITED STATES

11.10.2022

Photo by T. T. Parish 

U.S. Army Medical Materiel Development Activity (USAMMDA)

Scotty Hogan loves to travel – sit down with him and he will regale you with stories of his globetrotting, first as a U.S. Navy Aviation Electrician's Mate then as a civilian traveler and educator. Today, Hogan is a Technical Writer and Public Affairs Specialist with the U.S. Army Medical Materiel Development Activity (USAMMDA) at Fort Detrick, Md. Hailing from the very center of Appalachia to parents Sidney and Sandra – from the small town of Rhodell, W. Va., population 139 as of 2020 – Hogan felt drawn to the Navy due to his wanderlust and his father’s influence, he said, enlisting immediately after high school in 1998. “I wanted to travel, and I thought the Navy would give me the opportunity to do that. Additionally, my father really encouraged me to join one of the military services.” Landing aboard the USS Kitty Hawk (CV-63) – literally, he joined the ship’s crew onboard the forward-deployed Kitty Hawk, flying onto ship in a C2 Greyhound during a resupply in the Persian Gulf – Hogan loved the ocean breeze familiar to Sailors underway, the roar of jet engines catapulting from the flight deck, the port calls feeding his love of adventure. Originally stationed with the Kitty Hawk at its then homeport of Yokosuka, Japan, Hogan loved the camaraderie of the Navy, learning from his shipmates, and the feeling of purpose during the time immediately before and after 9/11. “We deployed to the Persian Gulf several times to support Operation Southern Watch, Operation Enduring Freedom and the Global War on Terrorism,” said Hogan. “After leaving the Kitty Hawk, I was stationed in Sigonella, Sicily,” before leaving service in 2005. After the Navy, Hogan earned his bachelor's degree in English and Literature from Mountain State University, master's degree in Adult Education and Training from the University of Phoenix, and is working toward completing a second master's in Mass Communication from the University of Arkansas-Little Rock. His passion for learning and teaching stems directly from lessons learned during his Navy service, and his experiences as a Veteran and educator continue to fuel his passion for adventure. “As a former teacher, I believe that education is extremely important and can improve both your professional and personal lives,” said Hogan, “Teach people what they need to do, give them the tools to succeed, and allow them to do their jobs.” Today, now living in Martinsburg, W. Va. with his wife, Huyen, whom he met while teaching in Bangkok, Thailand, Hogan is proud of his time in uniform and thoughtful about his approach to work and life as a Veteran. “Veterans are a snapshot of America, we come in all varieties. At the same time, we have a unique perspective on serving the country and I believe that meshes well with [continued] service.” (Official U.S. Army Photo by T. T. Parish/Released)

• Date Taken: 11.10.2022
• Date Posted: 11.10.2022 10:03
• Photo ID: 7507324
• VIRIN: 221104-A-PJ332-295
• Resolution: 4133x2755
• Size: 570.21 KB
• Location: FORT DETRICK, MD, US
• Hometown: FORT DETRICK, MD, US
• Hometown: FREDERICK, MD, US
• Hometown: RHODELL, WV, US