Silent Service

By Naperville Magazine
Appears in the January 2022 issue.

Petty Officer 3rd Class Ezekiel Ochoa, a 2019 East Aurora graduate, is currently a machinist’s mate serving aboard the USS Alaska—one of the world’s most advanced nuclear-
powered submarines. “I joined the Navy because my high school had a JROTC for the Navy,” he says.

Known as America’s “Silent Service,” the Navy’s submarine force operates a large fleet of technically advanced vessels capable of conducting rapid defensive and offensive operations.

“Greatness can come from humble beginnings,” says Ochoa. “It doesn’t matter who you are or what your background is, if you stay driven by what you are passionate about, you are capable of more than you think. Serving in the Navy allows me to give back and have the opportunity to influence and be a part of the direction of this country.”

Photo courtesy Navy Office of Community Outreach