Arlington Heights native serves aboard U.S. Navy destroyer

Petty Officer 3rd Class Heather Olandese, an electronics technician from Arlington Heights, is serving in the U.S. Navy aboard San Diego-based guided missile destroyer USS Preble (DDG 88), which returned in November from a seven-month deployment supporting security and stability in the Indo-Asia-Pacific region.

The Preble is 509 feet long and 59 feet wide and weighs over 9,400 tons and helps protect and defend America on the world's oceans.

Fast, maneuverable, and technically advanced, destroyers provide the required warfighting capabilities and operational flexibility to execute multi-mission evolutions such as surface warfare, anti-submarine warfare and anti-air warfare.

On our planet, more than 70 percent of which is covered by water, "being there" means having the ability to act from the sea. The Navy is uniquely positioned to be there; the world's oceans give the Navy the power to protect America's interests anywhere, and at any time. Your Navy protects and defends America on the world's oceans. Navy ships, submarines, aircraft and, most importantly, tens of thousands of America's finest young men and women are deployed around the world doing just that.

Thank you very much for your support of the men and women in the U.S. Navy, deployed around the clock and ready to protect and defend America on the world's oceans.

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