Findlay native serves aboard Navy aircraft

Findlay native, Petty Officer 3rd Class Gabriela Hailey, serves aboard USS Abraham Lincoln, a U.S. Navy aircraft carrier operating out of San Diego, California. Graduating from Findlay High School in 2020, Hailey said the skills and values in the Navy were similar to Findlay. "Two lessons I learned from my hometown were to always be accepting of others and to respect their opinions," Hailey said in a release from the Navy Office of Community Outreach. "In the Navy, there are people from all over the world and I have to be accepting of them so we can work together and accomplish our missions." Joining the navy four years ago, she now serves as an aviation boatswain's mate (handling). During her time with the Navy, she has had numerous accomplishments. "My proudest accomplishment in the Navy is being nominated for my department for Junior Sailor of the Quarter," Hailey said in the release. "I am proud of this because I worked hard for the last four years to earn all the qualifications I need. Even if I don't win for the command, it is okay because I'm just glad my division acknowledged my hard work." The U.S. navy is celebrating its 250th birthday this year. For more than 100 years, aircraft carriers have been the centerpiece of America's Naval forces. Carriers have projected power, sustained sea control, provided humanitarian assistance and disaster relief, bolstered deterrence, and maintained enduring commitments worldwide. According to the release, Navy officials said aircraft carriers are more versatile, making them a strategic asset for the Navy compared to fixed-site bases. Carriers are often the first to respond in global crisis situations due to its ability to operate freely in international waters. Serving in a Navy that operates forward, around the world and around the clock, Hailey said the Navy has offered her many opportunities. "Serving in the Navy means that I am part of something bigger than myself and that I have a whole world of opportunities ahead of me," Hailey said in the release. "I want to thank my family for supporting me in every way possible these last four years,"