Thomasville native assumes command of USS O'KANE
May 6—THOMASVILLE — Brookwood graduate and Thomasville native Rich Ray has assumed command of the guided-missile cruise USS O'Kane (DDG 77) after 18 years of active duty in the Navy and recently returned home to share his experience.
Ray attended Brookwood for 13 years, before graduating in 2002. He then attended the Citadel in Charleston, South Carolina, graduating in 2006 and deploying on active duty to Sasebo, Japan, as the OPS/Chief Staff Officer.
Following this tour, Ray served as the flag lieutenant to Amphibious Force SEVENTHFLT/ESG-7 based in Okinawa, Japan.
Serving his country in the Navy was something Ray had long aspired to do, as his father was also in the Navy and the opportunity provided endless educational and life experiences.
"An appreciation for the service was taught to me growing up," Ray said. "It's a rare commodity in other places, though. It gives me nothing but respect for my father and all the people who came before him."
Since joining the Navy, Ray has married and had two children. He shared he met his wife in Japan — while on deployment, as she is also in the service. They then had their first child, who was born in Japan and attended school there.
"I'm better off for my service, and so is my family," Ray said. "They have given me opportunities I never would've had otherwise."
Ray elaborated sharing that his children have traveled to more countries than he ever did as a child for his various deployments, which can last from 5-6 months.
During his deployments, Ray became the operations officer on the USS John S. McCain, where he participated in real-world operations through the Western Pacific.
Upon completion of his duties as an operations officer, Ray reported to the Destroyer Squadron FIFTEEN as the N3, during which time he deployed as part of the Ronald Reagan Strike Group.
While at CDS-15, Ray coordinated the daily operations and execution of the Seventh Fleet's Theater Surface Warfare mission between eight forward-deployed DDG and more than seven independent deployers.
However, his next deployment is his biggest one to date.
Ray assumed command of the USS O'Kane in October, where he has 360 crew members in his Abraham Lincoln Carrier Strike Group.
Since taking command, Ray has been preparing his group for their deployment later this summer in an undisclosed location.
Assuming command has been a highlight of Ray's career as he not only gets to serve his country but also influences young sailors and shares his background with recruit hopefuls.
"This has been the goal for 17 years," he said. "I get to influence sailors in the job and when I meet people, I get to tell them I'm from South Georgia and show them positive leadership."
The positive leadership from South Georgia was on full display during Ray's Change of Command ceremony, when Becca Sledge Erwin, the current director of admissions at Brookwood and Ray's former teacher, attended to support him in his endeavors.
"I love the community and I'm lucky to have a close group of friends and mentors still live in Thomasville who I can call on whenever I need assistance or advice," Ray said.
Ray encourages any Brookwood student or student in the Thomasville area considering going into the Navy to reach out, sharing he would love to be the mentor and friend that so many have been to him during this period of his life.
"The benefits of going into the Navy are great, but it's the way you get to represent where you come from that's exciting," he concluded.
