I always wanted to be in the Navy. I don’t know exactly why. My dad was in the Navy, but he never talked much about it. When I was five, my uncle — a naval aviator and a big part of my life — took me in the gondola of a blimp at Lakehurst, N.J.

After four years in the Navy, I left and became a fitter in New Jersey, making top rate in the union. I liked what I did. But I got bored with it. I wanted to travel some. When I came back in the Navy two years later I was more focused, more serious that this was going to be my career.

My favorite assignments were the ones where I worked the hardest. On the fleet tug USS Paiute, a reserve ship with a small crew, you can excel in just about any direction that you would like. I was able to apply my knowledge as a fitter and do lots of things for this very old ship as well as achieve things I wouldn’t have been able to achieve on a larger ship, like qualifying as engineering officer of the watch and command duty officer.

My other favorite was driving the "War Wagon," a tractor-trailer towing a mobile damage-control wet trainer behind it, to stations everywhere from Michigan to Key West. That was a lot of fun.

I also enjoyed being at the tip of the spear whenever I could. I boarded the carrier USS Harry S. Truman just before the war in Iraq, and took satisfaction in being a small part in the big picture. As an instructor once told me, it’s all about going fast and shooting the big guns.

I’ve made a difference to the sailors I supervised. If they wanted to achieve something, I would do everything I could to help them or show them the opportunities. I enjoyed tailoring my instruction so they could understand. I know there are people out there who are better off because of the things that I have shown them.

Now, after 33 years — including 18 years of sea duty — I’m in my twilight tour, a department head at the Transient Personnel Unit in Norfolk, Va., taking care of maintenance and the building. For the first time in my career I’ve had my own office — with a door!

How do I inspire sailors to give their best and their all? I give my best and my all. If I had wanted to, I could have done my time here and headed out. But I saw a need here, a 50-year-old building I wanted to clean up and make a more professional environment.

We completely transformed it. We built decks and canopies for the courtyard, replaced the artwork, and put a memorial on the wall to sailors who died in the war on terrorism since 9/11. Just doing this has inspired a lot of people, even the staff, who can see and feel a different atmosphere. It’s been very satisfying.

I love the Navy traditions. I always shudder at the thought of changing Navy tradition. I love the boson’s pipe and the ringing of the bells. I love the ceremony. Even my office is painted haze gray.

I’ll miss the Navy. I’m extremely proud of my son, a yeoman second class. We carpool to the base sometimes. He has done extremely well in the Navy. He’s the only person I’ve ever re-enlisted in my career. He’s making some good decisions about his life.