Petty Officer 1st Class Matthew Akehurst, a native of Cromwell, Connecticut, serves the U.S. Navy assigned to USS Hyman G. Rickover, homeported at Naval Submarine Base New London.

As a submariner, Akehurst is part of a small percentage of Navy personnel who serve under the sea to help ensure Americans’ safety.

Akehurst graduated from Cromwell High School in 2012.

The skills and values needed to succeed in the Navy are similar to those found in Cromwell.

“Growing up, I learned the importance of having discipline and earning respect,” Akehurst said. “Those have been a huge factor. Being respectful and having good manners has made things easier.”

Akehurst joined the Navy 11 years ago. Today, Akehurst serves as a culinary specialist (submarines) aboard USS Hyman G. Rickover, a Virginia-

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