Sonar Technician Surface 2nd Class Ryan Kinney arrived aboard USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN 69) April 25 and now makes up half of the ship’s sonar technicians.

With his nine years of knowledge, Kinney said he is more than ready to keep Ike’s new torpedo warning system (TWS), along with its other sonar equipment, operationally prepared by using his experiences using sonar under the sea, and at shore.

Prior to coming to Ike, Kinney spent four years aboard the Los Angeles-class fast attack submarine USS Greenville (SSN 772), before shore duty at Fleet Training Combat Training Center Dam Neck, working on the Integrated Undersea Surveillance Systems (IUSS).  While there, Kinney found out he could no longer serve aboard submarines.

“I wanted to still be in the Navy, and I didn’t want to leave the sonar field,” said Kinney “When I brought this up to the detailer, they said we can put you on a carrier. Of course, I went with that and got orders to the Mighty Ike. It’s been really interesting and awesome.”

Kinney will work with Ike’s other sonar technician Sonar Technician Surface 2nd Andrew McAlister.

“I was really excited to have Kinney come here to Ike, as we needed more sonar technicians on board,” said McAlister. “His years of experience are greatly appreciated as Ike incorporates more sonar based technology.”

While he was excited to come to the Ike, Kinney knew the work was not going to be the same as his prior commands.

“So far from what I’ve gathered, Ike does allow me to operate some really cool systems,” said Kinney. “Going to more of an active side here on Ike, where I’m dealing more with counter measures, is pretty cool. I feel like what I learned from working with submarine sonar and the training I got gives me a slight advantage in learning these new systems and supplies me with ways to use them more effectively.”

One of these new systems, TWS, Kinney holds in high regard for how essential he believes it is to Ike and its mission.

“This new system that we’ve got, TWS, is probably going to be the biggest asset in sonar that’s been employed on Ike due to its capabilities to intercept in coming torpedoes and anything coming at Ike from under the sea,” said Kinney.

McAlister believes Kinney will do well during his tour Ike.

“He picks up on these systems very quickly. So, when I leave in a few months I feel that Ike’s sonar systems will be in good hands,” said McAlister.

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