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Walton’s Joe Dearing, now a Navy officer, teaches innovative tactics at Officers School in Rhode Island


Lt. Joe Dearing applied the lessons learned from Walton to become one of the most elite surface warriors.

“My hometown taught me the importance of hard work and dedication,” said Dearing.

Those lessons, along with training and application learned during Dearing’s 18 years of naval service, turned into an opportunity to teach the most innovative tactics of surface warfare at Surface Warfare Officers School, located in Newport, Rhode Island.

“The best part about being at Surface Warfare School is its location,” said Dearing. “Being able to travel around New England and see the sights is a lot of fun.”

Lt. Joe Dearing

Considered one of the Navy’s greatest assets, the instructors of Surface Warfare Officers School train and mentor the students who will use what they learn to lead sailors at sea. The students must pass a rigorous course structure in order to serve as surface warfare officers.

The mission of Surface Warfare Officers School is to ready sea-bound warriors to serve on surface combatants as officers, enlisted engineers, and enlisted navigation professionals to fulfill the Navy’s mission maintaining global maritime superiority.

Once service members finish training they are deployed around the world putting their skill set to work aboard Navy ships, such as aircraft carriers, cruisers, destroyers, amphibious warfare ships, mine warfare ships and littoral combat ships.

“At Surface Warfare Officers School, we are committed to training, developing and inspiring our Navy’s surface warfare officers,” said Capt. Scott Robertson, SWOS commanding officer. “Our graduates leave our courses ethically, intellectually, professionally and physically prepared to deliver professional leadership on every surface vessel in the fleet.”

Dearing is a 1999 graduate of Walton-Verona High School and a 2010 graduate of Jacksonville University.

There are many sacrifices and goals one must achieve to be selected as an instructor and Dearing is most proud of serving with the Blue Angels.

“It was exciting getting to travel around the United States and meet a lot of different people,” said Dearing. “I was able to tell them how good the Navy has been to me and how much I enjoy it.”

The future of surface warfare is rapidly changing, so the course and materials at Surface Warfare Officer School are constantly evolving to create the most dynamic, lethal, safe and professional warfighting team for the Navy the nation needs.

“It is critical that students report to the fleet with the academic baseline required to perform as warfighters in today’s maritime environment,” said Lt. Matt Gallagher, the command’s public affairs officer. “SWOS training is at the epicenter of professional development for surface warfare officers throughout their careers.”

Surface warfare has been a part of world history for more than 3,000 years, and the United States has its stamp on that history with actions ranging from the American Revolution to modern day operations at sea around the world.

As Dearing and other instructors train future surface warriors, they take pride in what it means to serve their country in the United States Navy.

“Serving in the Navy means being a part of something greater than myself,” said Dearing. “It’s being a part of something that is good.”

Navy Office of Community Outreach


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