Courtesy Photo | Chief Mate, John Holesha aboard USNS John Ericsson (T-AO 194) watches as the Japanese...... read more read more
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In the corporate world, John Holesha would be known as the chief operating officer.
In some political arenas, he would be the prime minister.
In the Navy, he’d go by the title of executive officer.
On USNS John Ericsson (T-AO 194), the captain calls Holesha his right-hand man, while the crew refers to him as chief mate.
He says he’s simply a “jack of all trades.”
“The chief mate plays a role in just about everything that happens outside the engine room onboard the ship,” Holesha says.
“The chief mate can really set the tone for how efficiently a ship operates. On a daily basis, the chief mate has to balance personalities, skill sets and available resources to meet mission requirements.”
Those day-to day jobs vary widely depending on Ericsson’s operational tasking and schedule.
“It wouldn’t be uncommon to find me on the bridge conning the ship into port before breakfast and then holding anti-terrorism training with the crew after lunch.”
Holesha’s chief mate responsibilities include training, damage control, force protection and health and welfare of the crew, just to name a few.
“I really enjoy coaching junior personnel when they express a desire to advance,” he says.
“Military Sealift Command allows you to explore all different types of operations while providing the training and resources you need to advance to along the way. “
Always, in all ways, he says the safety of the crew and the ship are his “paramount mission.”
Coordinating with other departments onboard help ensure Ericsson’s mission success. The fleet replenishment oiler delivers food, fuel, supplies and critical cargo to U.S. Navy and international partners’ ships operating in the Indo-Pacific Region.
“While the captain is ultimately in-charge, the chief mate, in many instances, works with other department heads and key personnel to ensure ‘the planets align’ so that when the [underway replenishment] is set, the ship is ready to meet the logistics needs of the Navy, our allies and our partners,” the Maine Maritime Academy grad said.
While Holesha downplays his value to the mission and crew, Ericsson’s captain lauds the contributions the former Navy operations specialist makes.
“Even though his tour on board was unexpectedly extended by four months, John consistently, without fail, shows up as a professional every day and in every way,” says Capt. Hiram Davies, master of Ericsson.
“He is highly competent and takes a tremendous amount of responsibility off of my shoulders.
“John is exactly the caliber of outside hires MSC needs to pursue for senior positions. He exceeds all expectations of his position, and that is saying something as a person who has a relatively short history with MSC.”
While Holesha has considerable time underway, he’s only been a part of the MSC team for the last five years. He joined the Navy in 1994 and served aboard USS San Jacinto (CG 56) and USS Estocin (FFG 15).
After completing his naval service, he graduated from Maine Maritime Academy. He currently holds an unlimited master’s license. During the course of his career, Holesha has worked on tugs, offshore supply vessels, multipurpose supply vessels and chemical and oil tankers.
“This is one of the few professions where you can start out as an unlicensed rating and advance to captain or chief engineer if you have the drive to succeed.
“Having started at the bottom, I know the dedication it takes to persevere in order to meet your goals,” the Maine resident says.
“I have served in all deck department capacities from [able seaman] to master while employed commercially and as temporary master aboard USNS Rappahannock and USNS Grasp while with MSC."
Holesha has proudly completed multiple deployments in all major areas of responsibility but enjoys working in the Indo-Pacific Region most.
“I prefer to sail in [the 7th Fleet Area of Operations] as this is a dynamic region where operational tasking can flip in a New York City-minute and where our presence ensures our Navy is well positioned to counter any threats to U.S. interests,” Holesha says.
Military Sealift Command Far East ensures approximately 50 ships in the Indo-Pacific region, including USNS John Ericsson, are manned, trained and equipped to deliver essential supplies, fuel, cargo, and equipment to warfighters, both at sea and on shore.
Task force commanders employ these ships to ensure mission accomplishment.
Commander, Logistics Group Western Pacific and Task Force 73 is the U.S. 7th Fleet's provider of combat-ready logistics, operating government-owned and contracted ships that keep units throughout 7th Fleet armed, fueled and fed.
As the U.S. Navy's largest forward-deployed fleet, 7th Fleet employs 50-70 ships and submarines across the Western Pacific and Indian oceans. U.S. 7th Fleet routinely operates and interacts with 35 maritime nations while conducting missions to preserve and protect a free and open Indo-Pacific Region.
Military Sealift Command is the leading provider of ocean transportation for the Navy and the rest of the Department of Defense - operating approximately 125 ships daily around the globe.
| Date Taken: | 11.19.2021 |
| Date Posted: | 11.19.2021 04:22 |
| Story ID: | 409658 |
| Location: | U.S. 7TH FLEET AREA OF RESPONSIBILITY |
| Web Views: | 258 |
| Downloads: | 2 |
This work, Chief Mate Indispensable to Ericsson’s Mission Accomplishment, by Leslie Hull-Ryde, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
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