Women power of LCS 14

PORTSMOUTH, N.H. - The force and strength of the Gulf Coast-built 608-ton future USS Manchester (LCS 14) is undeniable. But perhaps one of the more historic aspects of the new Littoral Combat Ship is the clout of the women behind it. USS Manchester’s commanding officer, Cmdr. Emily Bassett, has made five deployments, earned two master's degrees and held leadership posts on four Navy ships. LCS 14 arrived here at the New Hampshire Port Authority on May 21 ahead of its commissioning ceremony May 26. Five-thousand attendees are expected. Bassett is a native of Seattle, Wash. She completed her first division officer tour aboard USS Rushmore (LSD-47). After nuclear power training, she completed a tour in the aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN-72); followed by USS Ingraham (FFG-61); and as executive officer in USS Arlington (LPD 24). Her five deployments included WESTPAC, CARAT, Operations Enduring Freedom, Southern Watch and Iraqi Freedom. She earned a master's degree in Hispanic studies, taught in Spanish, from the University of Cadiz, Spain. She has another master's in engineering management from Old Dominion University in Virginia. (Source: Portsmouth Herald 05/21/18) Gulf Coast Note: USS Manchester was built at the Austal USA shipyard in Mobile, Ala.