Being able to say, “I fly helicopters” — specifically the Seahawk series that boast a maximum cruise elevation of 10,000 feet and 210 miles per hour — must be a great conversation starter. So must saying that you are helping to train a future generation of naval cadets at MIT, Harvard and Tufts universities, and other local schools.
U.S. Navy Commander Jennifer A. Huck, executive officer (XO) for the Naval Reserve Officers Training Corps (NROTC) consortium, can do both. Called the Old Ironsides Battalion, the unit comprises around 80 midshipmen across six universities and is housed on the MIT campus.
After 20 years of active duty, Huck has now returned home, in a sense. She herself was commissioned through the NROTC program at Boston University, where she earned a BS in biomedical engineering in 2003. Here, Huck explains her role and how the naval ROTC program prepares students to commission as officers in the U.S. Navy and Marine Corps upon graduation.
Q: Tell us a bit about your own military and academic career. Why did you decide to pursue that path? What has surprised you along the way? And of course, what is it like to fly helicopters?
A: I have always been a person who seeks a sense of purpose, and I enjoy being part of a team. I also grew up being very involved in athletics and wanted to keep physical fitness as a big part of my life. After learning about various educational opportunities the Navy offers, I instantly gravitated towards the idea of joining because I felt that the job checked the blocks for so many things that are important to me. I joined Navy ROTC at Boston University in 1999 and I have had nothing but amazing experiences since then.
As a midshipman, I explored career paths in medicine and nuclear power. My summer training experience in 2002 onboard the aircraft carrier USS Harry S Truman sealed the deal for me wanting to be a naval aviator. The freedom of flight was exhilarating and the responsibility, leadership, and skill required of the pilots fueled my drive for purpose and mission accomplishment — not to mention the views from above were quite nice!
So after graduating from BU, I completed naval flight training and earned my pilot wings in August 2005. I subsequently spent over 10 years flying missions operating in the Middle East, Horn of Africa, and Western Pacific. Flying multi-million dollar combat helicopters is thrilling and fulfilling as it requires precise control, coordination, and focus to agilely maneuver amidst immersive aircraft vibrations, loud rotor-blade noise, and anything else that may be in the area (weather, threats, terrain, etc).
Throughout my career, I’ve had many exciting assignments, including flying those H-60 combat helicopters, working operations at the U.S. Embassy in Colombia, developing requirements for next-generation technologies at the Pentagon, and instructing students in flight school and in ROTC.
It has, however, been the people, and not necessarily the jobs, that have kept me in the Navy for 21 years. There is no other organization where you will find the same camaraderie as military service.
Q: MIT has a long history of national service and takes great pride in its ROTC students — especially given the dual rigor of the curriculum and the military training. Can you explain what an XO does day to day and how you support students?
A: The NROTC executive officer plays a vital role in the leadership and administration of the program. As second-in-command, I assist the NROTC commander, Captain Jack Houdeshell, in managing the unit’s operations. I directly supervise the unit staff and midshipmen and provide guidance, mentorship, and support to ensure everyone fulfills their roles and responsibilities effectively.
Since our unit’s mission is to train midshipmen, I also oversee the development and execution of our training curriculum, which includes naval science classes, physical training, laboratory sessions, drill instruction, and other professional development activities. This oversight ensures that midshipmen are prepared to commission as officers in the United States Navy and Marine Corps upon graduation.
MIT graduates are top performers in the fleet, and the rigorous four-year program they complete here prepares them to be ready to respond to future technical and leadership challenges.
Q: As part of your service, you’ve traveled around the world, living and working in a half-dozen countries. How would you characterize the culture at MIT? What’s been special about your time on campus?
A: Like I previously mentioned, one of the most exciting parts about my job is the dynamic environment I operate in. Part of the dynamics involves traveling around the world and experiencing different cultures and conditions. My experience at MIT, in many ways, parallels certain cultural experiences from around the world.
First, MIT has a diverse student body with students representing numerous ethnic backgrounds, countries, and experiences. MIT students are very talented, hard-working, and focused on achieving their goals; they want to make the world a better place. MIT encourages freedom of thought and unique problem-solving, similar to what is required of our military and global leaders.
What I find most special about MIT is the people. Similar to the Navy, MIT creates a global network of friendships and lifelong connections. I consider the MIT community to be my “MIT family.”
