By Javier Chagoya

NPS student Lt. Cmdr. Lindsay Anderson reads the latest issue of the university's flagship magazine, In Review, focused on the DOD's path to gender integration. Anderson, whose image dons the cover of the issue, has her own unique story on her way to serving on board the guided-missile submarine, USS Georgia.

"It was in the fourth grade when I began my dream of joining the Navy and also had aspirations for becoming an astronaut. A neighbor of mine was a retired Navy man and he told me that NASA astronauts were mostly naval officers. Later, I did achieve my dream of attending the Naval Academy," said Anderson.

A serious medical condition almost curbed Anderson's dreams of service, but after several surgeries and a long rehabilitation process while at the Naval Academy, she achieved her goals.

"I've served on an aircraft carrier, guided-missile cruiser, and a guided-missile submarine, all with their own challenges. While on Enterprise, I was the only supply officer to qualify as Officer of the Deck, so I didn't get much sleep on that deployment," she said.

Her introduction to the Navy's fleet of submarines also began with its own challenges.

"I arrived at the pier for USS Georgia, a guided-missile sub home ported in Kings Bay, Georgia. The only problem was that the rule for a female to board the ship was that a second female must accompany her. I ended up waiting three days before I could officially report to do my job as the supply officer," she said.

To read more about the university's role in supporting DOD gender integration, check out the latest issue of In Review, now available in academic buildings across campus, and online at http://www.nps.edu.