Veteran Sailor at the Helm of Yukon

Courtesy Photo | Capt. Dan Glazier, master of USNS Yukon (T-AO 202), has spent a lifetime at sea. When he retired after 21 years on active duty with the U.S. Navy, Glazier worked in the commercial shipping sector for three years, mostly on tankers. He joined Military Sealift Command after 9/11.  

PACIFIC OCEAN

04.26.2021

Story by Leslie Hull-Ryde 

Military Sealift Command Far East

“How long have you been in the Navy?”

It’s a common question, often posed to those in the sea service.

While the answer naturally varies, some resoundingly answer, "All me bloomin' life!”

Although, it’s not been his whole life, Capt. Dan Glazier, master of USNS Yukon (T-AO 202), has certainly spent a lifetime at sea.

For more than two decades, Glazier served as a quartermaster aboard U.S. Navy ships, primarily cruisers, destroyers, and amphibious ships in the Pacific and Middle East. The retired chief logged an impressive amount of time on the bridge of several ships, standing watch, helping navigate, keeping the ship on course, even steering the USS Cook (FF-1083) and USS Obrien (DD-975) as master helmsman.

While teaching navigation at Fleet Training Center San Diego, he attended the Southern California Merchant Marine School where he studied and earned his U.S. Coast Guard Third Mate’s License. When he retired after 21 years on active duty, Glazier worked in the commercial shipping sector for three years, mostly on tankers. He joined Military Sealift Command after 9/11 and upgraded his license at the Maritime Institute of Technology and Graduate Studies, near Baltimore.

Glazier is accustomed to taking on heavy loads, not just in cargo but in responsibility and authority as well.

He has served on the majority of classes of ships in MSC’s inventory and was promoted to master on the USNS Howard O. Lorenzen (T-AGM 25) in March of 2012. In the last 19 years the Lima, Ohio, native has been part of the MSC team, he served as master of USNS Washington Chambers (T-AKE 11) and USNS Rainier (T-AOE 7) and has held various positions on several other ships in the MSC fleet.

Glazier was awarded the Admiral of the Ocean Seas award, presented by the International Seaman’s Service Center while in command of USNS Richard E. Byrd (T-AKE 4) for the rescue of nine Yemeni seamen in the Gulf of Oman in July of 2014. He has been in command of USNS Yukon since March of 2018.

As a fleet replenishment oiler, Yukon provides critical supplies like fuel, food, and parts to U.S. Navy and international partners’ ships operating in strategic regions all over the globe. As the ship’s master, Glazier is responsible for the entire ship, from bow to stern.

The challenges, opportunities, and the crew members Glazier has led and worked with are what make a Sailor’s life the one for him, not just for the last four decades but for the foreseeable future too.

How would you describe your job?
As master of Yukon, I’m in charge of the entire ship, responsible for everything and everyone on board. That includes all personnel assigned, the operations we conduct, the maintenance we schedule, and the cargo we load, carry, and deliver to our customers at sea. My priority is to conduct safe and professional logistical support operations for the U.S. Navy and our coalition partners.

What is your impact to mission accomplishment?
Yukon and other ships in the U.S. Navy’s Combat Logistics Force have to be where we’re needed, with the right supplies that are needed, at the exact time they’re needed. We sustain fleet operations. We must adjust our schedule to meet the needs of the fleet, while all the time coordinating priorities, making solid plans, and being flexible to replenish ships at sea.

What's the most difficult or challenging part of your job?
Schedules change constantly. Coordinating an ever-changing schedule comes with a lot of challenges. It's a balance of workforce and resources to meet those needs and
knowing how to keep operations safe. During the last year, changes of schedules, extensions of time in theater, and the unexpected impact of COVID-19 on operations and everyday life have added new considerations. While we juggle all these factors, I must also keep the ship within the
classification standards for safety and operation of the American Bureau of Shipping and United States Coast Guard for this 27-year-old, single-hulled oiler.

What's the most gratifying part of your job?
Without a doubt, the most satisfying thing about serving as master of Yukon is seeing the successes of the crew members who safely carry out the mission.

What would you say to others who may be interested in supporting MSC?
Civilian mariners provide an incredible service to the fleet. It takes a certain individual who is willing to do the things [civil service mariners] are doing. There are many opportunities, and even more on the way.

• Date Taken: 04.26.2021
• Date Posted: 04.26.2021 04:14
• Story ID: 394689
• Location: PACIFIC OCEAN