Lieutenant Gretchen Doane is from Tavares, Florida, and is a 1984
graduate of Thornton High School in Thornton, Colorado where she lettered in swimming and soccer. She enlisted in
the Navy in May 1985 as a non-designated seaman.
Gretchen reported to USS Yosemite (AD-19) homeported in Mayport, Florida, in September 1985 where she worked
in Deck Department. She advanced as a Yeoman to Petty Officer 3rd Class and worked in the Administrative and Legal
Departments during her first six-month deployment in 1986. In September 1987, she reported to Patrol Squadron 30
(VP-30) at Naval Air Station (NAS) Jacksonville, Florida, where she served in the Personnel and Administrative Departments.
In May 1989, Gretchen reported to Naval Technical Training Center (NTTC) Corry Station in Pensacola, Florida, where
she advanced to Petty Officer 2nd Class. Gretchen reported to Commander, U.S. Forces Korea in Seoul in September
1991 where she worked on intelligence products in a joint environment. In October 1992, she reported to Helicopter
Anti-Submarine Light Squadron 40 (HSL-40) at Naval Station Mayport, Florida, where she advanced to Petty Officer 1st
Class and served as the Leading Petty Officer of the Administrative Department. Gretchen qualified as an Enlisted
Aviation Warfare Specialist during this tour.
Gretchen reported to NAS Keflavik Iceland in March 1995. She was assigned to the Public Works Department where
she was selected as “Sailor of the Quarter.” She was then handpicked as the Executive Officer’s Yeoman. She was
selected as the “Military Member of the Year” for Commander, Fleet Air Keflavik. During her tour, Gretchen also
completed her Associates Degree in General Studies with the University of Maryland. In November 1997, Gretchen
reported to Assault Craft Unit 4 (ACU-4) at Little Creek Naval Base in Norfolk, Virginia and was assigned as the
Personnel Officer. In September 1998, she was advanced to Chief Petty Officer.
Gretchen was reassigned to Fighter Squadron 41 (VF-41) at NAS Oceana, Virginia, as the Admin/Personnel Leading
Chief Petty Officer in December 1998. She completed work-ups and a combat deployment to Kosovo in 1999 in support
of Operation Allied Force and earned her Enlisted Surface Warfare Specialist qualification. Gretchen was selected for
Limited Duty Officer during this tour and was commissioned in the backseat of a “Black Ace” F-14 Tomcat in January 2001.
In February 2001, she reported to USS Nimitz (CVN 68) in Norfolk, Virginia, as the Ship’s Secretary. She completed
a homeport change to San Diego, California, and an eight-month combat deployment to the Arabian Gulf in support
of Operations Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Freedom. Gretchen earned her Officer of the Deck underway qualification while onboard Nimitz.
Gretchen reported to Naval Station, Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, in November 2003 where she served for 17 months as the
Base Administrative Officer and was then assigned to Commander, Training Airwing 6 at NAS Pensacola in May 2005.
Gretchen joined the Blue Angels in September 2005. Her decorations include the Joint Service Commendation Medal,
three Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medals, five Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medals and various personal and unit awards.
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