A Los Angeles native, Navy Petty Officer 1st Class Trina Gray serves aboard the Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Dewey, forward deployed to Fleet Activities Yokosuka, Japan.
Currently conducting routine underway operations in the South China Sea, Gray has dedicated over 16 years to the Navy since enlisting in 2005 as a machinist mate, or auxiliary mechanic.
In 2009, she transitioned to operations specialist, and today she stands as the leading petty officer for the Operations Intelligence Division aboard Dewey. She oversees the training and mentorship of 29 sailors, ensuring they meet the rigorous standards required to defend the ship against air, surface, and subsurface threats while accurately identifying and classifying all vessels in the battlespace.
"Her leadership and managerial skills are top notch," said Senior Chief Petty Officer Geraldo Anzaldo, Operations Department leading chief petty officer. "She runs a tight division and excels at developing our future leaders. [Gray] ensures her team is fully qualified and maintenance is completed, which enhances our combat readiness."
Her commitment to warfighting excellence bolsters the ship's unity of purpose and operational effectiveness.
Beyond her primary role in the Combat Information Center, Gray takes on additional responsibilities that contribute to the ship's order and preparedness. As berthing petty officer, she assigns personnel to maintain cleanliness and organization in the sleeping quarters, upholding safety and discipline. She also serves as a coordinator for a team tasked with planning monthly observances, fostering a sense of shared mission among the crew.
"I have made celebrating Black History Month a priority in recent years," Gray said. "It is an opportunity to share experiences with all of America, or anyone interested. It has been an opportunity for me to learn about influences, contributions and history some Black people have made in America, and in the world. It is about giving thanks for those contributions and sacrifices that have been made for America to be a better place, even if there is still work to do. It is a celebration of uniqueness, art, history, heritage and culture."
For February, her team has displayed images and stories of accomplished service members around the ship, highlighting their contributions to military excellence.
"Our purpose in our research is to enlighten others, and in doing so, we enlighten ourselves," Gray added. "It shares the belief that although you are different, although you are a minority, you can make an impact that is large enough to impact the future of the military."
Raised in South Central L.A., which she describes as "rough around the edges," Gray rarely left the area before joining the Navy to fund her college education. Her service has since delivered far more than financial support.
"My favorite part of the Navy is relationship building," Gray added. "You meet people from all over the world; you get to learn about their upbringing and their experiences. Our different experiences make us a more capable Navy."
Among those who have shaped her career, Gray credits mentors and peers aboard Dewey for their guidance and selfless dedication. "I am inspired by people who give selflessly, continuously and ask for nothing in return," she said. "I look at these people in awe and with curiosity, like, 'How do you exist in our world?'" Their example drives her to uphold the Navy's standards and contribute to its warfighting readiness.