Like father, like daughter aboard USS Shiloh

For Lt. Caitlin Dailey, that is exactly what happened when she took on the role of USS Shiloh’s (CG 67) navigation officer at Joint Base Pearl Harbor–Hickam (JBPHH). Caitlin’s father, retired U.S. Navy Lt. Cmdr. Donald Dailey, served in the same role as the ship’s navigator more than two decades ago. He now lives in Gainesville, Florida.

“It’s really special that I get to serve on board the same ship as my dad because even though we are thousands of miles apart, I get to feel close to him,” Caitlin said.

Her father shared her sentiment, saying that their shared experience was “heartwarming” and he admired how far she has progressed in her career, adding that she’s “very independent and very capable.”

Although serving aboard the Shiloh more than a generation a part, both said they found the navigation officer position rewarding.

“For a navigator, I think the most rewarding aspect is getting underway and pulling into ports, especially if it's a port that we're pulling into for the first time,” she said. “Knowing that all the hard work that my team and I put into the voyage planning and all the transits paid off.”

But navigation officer isn’t the only role Dailey plays aboard Shiloh, she also serves as the ship’s medical administration department head, in charge of 21 additional Sailors and responsible for streamlining the ship’s administrative processes, including evaluations and personnel records.

Becoming the captain of a Navy ship is Dailey’s ultimate career goal and she plans to complete 20 years in the Navy to achieve it. She has already made commendable progress toward that goal, having earned her Surface Warfare Officer qualification in 14 months aboard the USS Gravely (DDG 107). As for her future plans, Dailey said she is expecting to be notified soon of her acceptance as an instructor at the Naval Reserve Officers Training Corps (NROTC) program at Norwich University in Northfield, Vermont.

Besides Caitlin and Donald’s, the Dailey family has a rich history of military service. Caitlin’s great grandfather was a lieutenant in the civil engineering corps during World War II, her grandfather was a Gunner’s Mate, and her uncle is currently a Chief Gunner’s Mate aboard USS Gabbrielle Giffords (LCS 10).

Dailey said her family’s willingness to serve their country, no matter the circumstance, is what brings her family together, “We all lived and served in very different times with different world conflicts,” she said. “But we all decided to serve. To me, it feels like the thread that ties us closer together.”