Sailor Lives Out Father's Dreams
by U.S.
Navy Aaliyah Essex, NSA
August 2, 2022
Family has always been an important factor
to Master-at-Arms Chief Petty Officer Megan Low assigned to Naval
Support Activity (NSA) Naples. Her naval career began as an effort
to continue the legacy of her grandfather and uncle, who previously
served in the U.S. Navy as a gunner’s mate and an electronics
technician respectively.
“I joined when I was 18 years old
because I knew I was the only one in my [family’s] generation that
would do it,” said Low.
After 14 years of continuing her
family’s legacy through service, Low is living out her dad’s dreams
for her as she receives a commission through the Limited Duty
Officer (LDO) program during a ceremony onboard NSA Naples’
Capodichino on July 29, 2022.

Ensign Megan Low takes the oath of office from U.S. Naval Support Activity (NSA) Naples Executive Officer Cmdr. Edward Chandler during a commissioning ceremony held at NSA Naples in Capodichino, Italy
on July 29, 2022. NSA Naples is an operational ashore base that enables U.S., allied, and partner nation forces to be where they are needed, when they are needed to ensure security and stability in the European, African, and Central Command areas of responsibility. (U.S. Navy photo by Aaliyah Essex, NSA)
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Low says her father’s death in
2016 was what really pushed her to apply to the program.
“He
really wanted me to be an officer. […] He always used to ask me when
I am going to become an officer,” said Low.
“This was for
him,” she said as she described him as someone that believed in her.
In addition to her father’s desires, Low’s motivation was also
influenced by the desire to overcome the challenges of being a
female in a male-dominated rate.
“I felt like I had to prove
myself a little more and show that I could keep up with the males,”
said Low.
Throughout her career, the mustang officer notes
she did not have a female mentor or leader to push her towards
leadership in the U.S. Navy.
“I strive to be that leader for
someone else,” said Low.
Low has done just that during her
time in Naples.
“She has shown that even though women are
presented with challenges, that it doesn’t give us an excuse, it
gives us more of a push to achieve what we want,” said her protégé,
Master-at-Arms 3rd Class Raedyn Robinius.
Low currently
serves as a section chief for NSA Naples’ Security.
“Chief
Low has been one of the best chiefs I’ve ever had the pleasure to
work for. She was always on top of anything our section needed, she
stood up and fought for us no matter what the case was, and helped
everyone do whatever possible to succeed. As the LPO for the section
she would push me to be better. She pushed me to study and learn to
be the best leader possible and figure everything out on my own and
if I couldn’t she would then show me,” said Master-at-Arms 1st Class
Ryan Morehouse.
NSA Naples’ Security Officer, Lt. Cmdr.
Alexander Lamis, spoke to her performance throughout his time as her
security officer.
“Ensign Low is a proven leader as a Section
Chief, Physical Security Officer, and Command Fitness Leader. She
successfully led Sailors and civilians plus the critical core
programs in Security,” said Lamis.
Because of her leadership
and work throughout her career and her time and NSA Naples, Low has
made her father’s dream come true.
NSA Naples is an
operational ashore base that enables U.S., allied, and partner
nation forces to be where they are needed, when they are needed to
ensure security and stability in the European, African, and Central
Command areas of responsibility.
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