Naval Particular Warfare Group 1, which mans, trains and equips West Coast-based SEAL Groups, is comprised of SEAL Groups 1, 3, 5, and seven in addition to Logistics Assist Unit 1 and TCC-1. Blakistone has served in her function since 2020 and her command helps SEAL Groups, different particular operations forces, and traditional forces worldwide by offering tactical communications in all environments and ranges of battle.
“We’re the voice of the nation’s most elite warfighters,” mentioned Blakistone. “I’m privileged to be able overseeing Sailors working on the forefront of expertise to keep up an edge over our adversaries.”
She described what makes her profitable in her function at NSW.
“I believe I convey a distinct perspective,” mentioned Blakistone. “Not simply as a lady, but in addition serving within the fleet aboard ships with my background, I imagine, has made me vastly useful to not solely the Naval Particular Warfare enterprise but in addition to my Sailors and the staff at TCC-1.”
Throughout her tenure she has furthered the partnership between the fleet and NSW by bringing a way of enthusiasm to every part she does, in accordance with Capt. David Abernathy, commander of Naval Particular Warfare Group 1.
“It has been unimaginable to look at Blythe lead over the previous two years,” mentioned Abernathy. “She is precisely the officer we’d like in our hardest conditions – her sturdy character, sharp mind, and progressive spirit are second to none.”
Rear Adm. H.W. Howard, commander, Naval Particular Warfare Command, mentioned various backgrounds like Blakistone’s are what give NSW groups a aggressive edge.
“NSW values variety,” mentioned Howard. “We merely can not accomplish the mission with out variety of roles, duties, backgrounds and views. Blythe’s innate potential to guide, alongside along with her distinctive background and experience are only one instance of how variety offers our groups the power to combat and win when it issues most.”
Blakistone is a local of Bremerton, Wash., and is a 2002 graduate of the USA Naval Academy the place she earned a Bachelor of Science in Ocean Engineering. Upon commissioning, she served 11 years as a floor warfare officer the place she led Sailors working a number of the most superior warships on the earth.
“Plenty of my experiences as a Midshipman [at the United States Naval Academy] actually influenced my strategy to management,” mentioned Blakistone. “I used to be capable of observe plenty of types of management, and I took the factors that resonated most with me as I went into the fleet as a younger [surface warfare officer].”
In 2013 Blakistone was re-designated as an data warfare officer, getting into the huge evolving battlespace of technological and cyber area dominance.
“I actually take pleasure in [science, technology, engineering, and mathematics]. I at all times have,” mentioned Blakistone. “I began to take a look at what extra may I do. I made the change as a result of I needed higher expertise, bringing expertise to the fleet, after which additionally the cyber facet. At [TCC-1] I like that we’re doing experimentation and bringing that new expertise ahead to the mission.”
Blakistone credit a lot of her success to the function fashions she has had alongside the best way. A type of function fashions was the primary girl officer within the historical past of the U.S. army to command a significant unified combatant command, U.S. Air Drive Basic Lori J. Robinson.
“I like her tag line: ‘I’m an excellent officer. I’m an excellent airman. I simply occur to be a lady – and that’s not how I bought right here.’ It was a privilege working for her and to see her on the prime and the way she dealt with issues.”
Vice Adm. Kelly Aeschbach, the highest data warfare officer and commander of Naval Info Forces, was one other key influencer and former boss of Blakistone.
“I took loads from her playbook on how she leads and influences in any respect ranges,” mentioned Blakistone. “I discovered to instill in my Sailors to proceed studying and to put money into the Sailors round them. Embody all people. Embrace variety. These are the constructing blocks to profitable groups.”
From the ladies cryptologists who cracked the German U-boat enigma codes in World Warfare I and the Japanese naval codes in World Warfare II; to ladies who supplied fight intelligence for each main battle for the reason that Chilly Warfare, ladies have been on the forefront of knowledge warfare since data warfare existed.
Navy historical past is filled with trailblazing pioneers who paved the best way for greater than 135,000 energetic, reserve, and civilian ladies serving within the Navy right now. In honor of ladies’s historical past month, we honor and pay tribute to these ladies – energetic and reserve, uniformed and civilian – who’ve served our Navy and our nation.
