Electronics Technician Kyle Rushing, assigned to Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN 72), received a Chief of Naval Operations Gold Disk Award from Lincoln’s commanding officer, Capt. Karl Thomas.
“I got the award for creating a new test routine for a specific circuit card,” Rushing said. “It ended up saving the Navy $136,000. Now all the technicians in the Navy and Coast Guard follow my new instruction.”
Rushing is from Bothell. He graduated from Inglemoor High in 2009 and began his naval career July 21, 2009.
“I originally joined the Navy because I wanted money for school,” Rushing said. “I ended up making rank pretty fast, and that combined with the fact that I love my job and I’m pretty good at it is why I’m going to stay in the Navy for life.”
He reported to Lincoln March 24, 2011. His role on the ship since then has been to repair circuit cards.
“When circuits break on the ship they troubleshoot the repairs, bring us the card and we’ll determine if it’s fixable,” Rushing said. “If it is, we find out which part needs to be replaced. Replacing a single part can cost under a dollar, but an entire new card can cost over $100,000.”
Rushing is an example of an ideal Sailor, possessing both knowledge of his rate and a hard work ethic.
“Personally what makes me happy and keeps me going is hard work,” Rushing said. “I’ve never been a fan of sitting around and waiting for something to do. If the work is challenging it ends up being a lot more fun and also rewarding. That’s why I love my job so much.”
Along with his regular duties as a Sailor, Rushing is his department’s surface and air warfare device program assistant coordinator as well as the command’s surface warfare program tracker. Rushing also helps out in the community, spreading the helpful image of the Navy around the Hampton Roads area.
“I coach basketball for the kids at the YMCA between six and eight years old,” Rushing said. “I absolutely love it. It’s my favorite sport but when I was younger I never really stuck with it. It feels good passing on my love for the game.”
Rushing is a dedicated Sailor who not only gains experience on the job and gives back to his community, but also takes his studies home with him in order to advance his career.
“My short term goal is making first class,” Rushing said. “I’ve been reading electronic training books in order to get me closer. Studying also helps my hobby where I make my own electronic circuits and circuit cards. Reading and practicing is fun to me because it furthers my knowledge of my rate, as well as gets me closer to my degree in electrical engineering. Most of all it helps my long term goal, which is making chief.”
Lincoln is currently undergoing a refueling complex overhaul (RCOH) at Newport News Shipbuilding, a division of Huntington-Ingalls Industries in Newport News.
Lincoln is the fifth ship of the Nimitz-class to undergo an RCOH, a major life-cycle milestone. Once RCOH is complete, Lincoln will be one of the most modern and technologically advanced Nimitz-class aircraft carriers in the fleet and will continue to be a vital part of the nation’s defense.
