More Than Maintenance: Navy Veteran Continues Serving Sailors at Sea
Kemery, a Navy veteran who transitioned to civilian life after serving as a petty officer second class, currently works as a contractor, maintaining multifunction printing systems aboard the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN 71). Through technical troubleshooting and daily deckplate interactions, he bridges technical support with mentorship for Sailors across the ship.
Kemery began his naval career as an aviation support equipment technician, serving nine years before cross-rating to mineman. His duty stations included the amphibious assault ship USS Peleliu (LHA 5), Naval Air Station Sigonella in Sicily and Naval Station Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, where he served as a detention guard. That diverse operational background gave him experience with long deployments, shipboard routines and personal resilience.
“My time in the Navy definitely taught me how to be flexible,” said Kemery. “You learn how to embrace situations that can’t change, accept them and move on to the next task at hand. You only control what you can control.”
That mindset guided his return to the fleet in 2021, when he accepted a position as a subcontractor for Xerox. The role offered him an opportunity to bring his technical expertise back to an operational warship.
Aboard Theodore Roosevelt, Kemery maintains printing networks, troubleshoots hardware failures, replenishes supplies and coordinates repair logistics. Because his work takes him into spaces across the carrier, he interacts with Sailors of every rank and rate. Kemery often provides an approachable sounding board for junior Sailors navigating personal or professional hurdles.
“I remember there were times when I was a junior Sailor and didn’t want to go talk to a Chief so I think it’s nice to be able to show some of the junior guys that people genuinely care,” Kemery said.
When sailors encounter difficulties, Kemery encourages them to speak candidly and helps them identify the appropriate leaders within their chain of command to resolve issues.
While shipboard communication and quality-of-life resources have evolved since his time in service, replacing long waits at shipboard phone banks with expanded digital connectivity and enhanced Morale, Welfare, and Recreation (MWR) programs, Kemery notes that the core experience of serving at sea remains the same.
“They’re the same Sailors that just came into the Navy,” Kemery said. “They’re just trying to navigate
it.”
Kemery also takes pride in seeing former shipmates advance into senior enlisted leadership roles.
“The memories that you make on this deployment will last you a lifetime,” Kemery said. “The people that you work with and the friendships you build can remain meaningful long after the deployment ends.”
For Kemery, serving the Navy from a civilian role is an extension of that shared commitment. Whether working to address a printing casualty or mentoring a deck seaman, Kemery remains an integral part of the collective effort keeping Theodore Roosevelt and its crew mission-ready.
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