Seaman Michael Martin was at the helm of USS Harry S. Truman (CVN 75), as we sailed down the Elizabeth River from Norfolk Naval Shipyard to conduct Sea Trials which took place July 21-25.
Martin is a legalman striker set to attend Naval Justice School this fall. He is also one of only four master helmsmen on board Truman, which means that he is qualified to train other helmsmen aboard ship and he is one of few who can steer this 90,000 ton carrier within a half a degree of her ordered course. Over our five day Sea Trial period Martin spent around 30 cumulative hours steering the ship and keeping us all safe through complex evolutions.
Overall Martin has trained around 60 Sailors on the helm and around 40 officers as helm safety and conning officers. He was one of only eight master helmsmen who drove the ship through the Suez Canal during Truman's last deployment. He is the only master helmsman on board to have conducted a course change while connected to another vessel. In Legal, Martin processed over 80 packages for Captain's Mast and supported us in completing 54 administrative separations. Martin has been a tremendous asset to both Truman and our Legal Office.