Petty Officer 2nd Class Max Phelps

By Senior Chief Mass Communication Specialist John Osborne, Navy Office of Community Outreach 

MAYPORT, Fla. – Petty Officer 2nd Class Max Phelps, a native of George Town, Cayman Islands, serves the U.S. Navy assigned to Patrol and Reconnaissance Squadron (VP) 30.

Phelps graduated from Clifton Hunter High School in 2013. 

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

“Moving around so much got me into a mindset that when I get to a place I can get a sense of stability very quickly,” said Phelps. “I also learned the importance of organization and in the Navy that translates into looking out for my junior Sailors.”

Phelps joined the Navy eight years ago. Today, Phelps serves as an aviation structural mechanic.

“We moved from the Cayman Islands to Honduras and then Kentucky. I actually have three high school diplomas,” said Phelps. “After I graduated from high school in Kentucky, I knew I didn’t want to stay there so I joined the Navy.”

Members of VP 30 fly and maintain the U.S. Navy’s P-8A Poseidon multi-mission maritime aircraft. Designed to secure the U.S. Navy’s future in long-range maritime patrol capability, the P-8A has transformed how the Navy’s maritime patrol and reconnaissance force will train, operate and deploy, according to Navy officials. P-8A aircraft around the globe to monitor the world’s oceans wherever they are needed.

With 90% of global commerce traveling by sea and access to the internet relying on the security of undersea fiber optic cables, Navy officials continue to emphasize that the prosperity of the United States is directly linked to recruiting and retaining talented people from across the rich fabric of America.

“We will earn and reinforce the trust and confidence of the American people every day,” said Adm. Lisa Franchetti, Chief of Naval Operations. “Together we will deliver the Navy the nation needs.”

Phelps has many opportunities to achieve accomplishments during military service. 

“My proudest accomplishment was on the 2022 deployment in the South China Sea an USS Theodore Roosevelt when one of our aircraft chains broke and I had to jump into the cockpit and stop the plane from crashing into other aircraft,” said Phelps. 

Phelps serves a Navy that operates far forward, around the world, and around the clock, promoting the nation’s prosperity and security.

“Serving in the Navy means meeting new people and not only doing a job but doing it well,” said Phelps. “We are all about working smarter and not harder in the Navy.”

Phelps is grateful to others for helping make a Navy career possible.

“I want to thank Aviation Structural Mechanic 1st Class Samantha Diener, who was my leading petty officer at my last command and was always there to give me advice and make me a better sailor. She is the biggest reason I have a lot of the success I have today,” said Phelps. 

“I took the E-6 exam in March and I’m anxiously awaiting those results,” added Phelps.”In my personal life, I want to get things under control. My life is too hectic right now and I don’t want it that way.”

Posted 1 week ago by Navy Office Of Community Outreach

Labels: VP 30