Photo By Petty Officer 1st Class Kristopher Haley | SAN DIEGO (May 8, 2022) – Capt. Katie Ellis, commanding officer of amphibious...... read more read more
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SAN DIEGO – Westford, Massachusetts native, Captain Katie Ellis, Commanding Officer of the Wasp-class amphibious assault ship USS Boxer (LHD 4), threw out the first pitch of the Padres Mother’s Day Celebration game on May 8.
The Padres selected nine active duty mothers to take the field before the start of the game and run out to each position. The mothers were met with applause and spent a few minutes with the Padres’ player at their position. Ellis was selected to go to the pitcher’s mound and throw out the first pitch.
“It was an honor to represent Boxer, the Navy and all the active duty mothers who have sacrificed so much to serve our country,” said Ellis. “My children were born in San Diego and were raised as Padres fans, being able to throw out the first pitch at a game is an experience that I will always cherish.”
Ellis grew up in Westford and is a 1993 graduate of Westford Academy followed by the U.S. Naval Academy where she earned a Bachelor’s degree in Mathematics. She later earned a Master of Business Administration degree from the College of William & Mary, and a Master of Arts degree in National Security and Strategic Studies from the Naval War College.
She has served in the Navy for 25 years and is currently preparing the ship and crew for sea trials after completing a scheduled maintenance availability.
“The Sailors aboard Boxer have been given the enormous task of getting this ship ready to return to sea,” said Ellis. “They brought this ship back to life after a long maintenance period in the midst of a pandemic and continued to operate it safely and effectively, rising to every occasion. I couldn’t be more proud to be a part of this team.”
The ship was commissioned Feb. 11, 1995 and is the sixth U.S. ship to bear the name Boxer. She is homeported in San Diego and currently preparing for sea trials. Once complete, Boxer will continue the Navy mission and answer the nation’s call when needed.
With more than 90 percent of all trade traveling by sea, and 95 percent of the world’s international phone and internet traffic carried through fiber optic cables lying on the ocean floor, Navy officials continue to emphasize that the prosperity and security of the United States is directly linked to a strong and ready Navy.
“For 245 years, in both calm and rough waters, our Navy has stood the watch to protect the homeland, preserve freedom of the seas, and defend our way of life,” said Chief of Naval Operations, Admiral Michael Gilday. “The decisions and investments we make this decade will set the maritime balance of power for the rest of this century. We can accept nothing less than success.
| Date Taken: | 05.08.2022 |
| Date Posted: | 05.10.2022 14:41 |
| Story ID: | 420381 |
| Location: | SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA, US |
| Web Views: | 222 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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USS Boxer (LHD 4)
