Shipmates and friends,
On January 16, 2019, CTICS(IW/EXW) Shannon M. Kent was killed in action in Manbij, Syria while supporting Combined Joint Task Force – Operation Inherent Resolved. She is the only female cryptologist killed in action in the history of naval cryptology, leaving behind two small children and a husband.
We are writing you in the hopes that each of you will consider joining us in committing to writing letters to your Senators/Representatives and the Acting Secretary of the Navy Thomas Modly to ask that a destroyer be named after CTICS Shannon Mary Kent. We don’t know who your Senators/Representatives are but here is the address for Secretary of the Navy:
THOMAS B. MODLY
Office of the Acting Secretary of the Navy
1000 Navy Pentagon, Room 4D652
Washington, DC 20350
Senior Chief Shannon Kent’s Biography:
Born to Stephen and Mary Smith in Oswego, New York, Senior Chief Petty Officer Shannon Kent grew up in the small Hudson Valley town of Pine Plains, where she graduated as an honor student from Stissing Mountain Junior/Senior High School.
Early on Shannon had insatiable curiosity for other cultures which led her to immerse herself in and fully embrace new languages. As a teen she learned Spanish and in high school she learned French in a few short months. This was a gift that would serve her well. In 2001, Shannon started as a freshman at State University of New York at Plattsburgh where she studied communications and mass media.
Fueled by the 9/11 attacks, on December 11, 2003, Shannon enlisted in the U. S. Navy. Following boot camp she received Arabic language training from the Defense Language Institute in Monterey, California and graduated in 2005 as a Cryptologic Technician (Interpretive).
Over 15 years of service, Shannon’s military assignments included in Georgia, Virginia, and Washington D.C. and she deployed eight times to various war zones. Her last permanent change of station before deploying to Syria was Cryptologic Warfare Activity-Sixty Six in Fort Meade, Maryland. In addition to her military accomplishments, Shannon applied for and was accepted into a PhD Psychologist program with the goal of becoming a commissioned officer to help those who suffer from post-traumatic Stress disorder.
Senior Chief Kent was authorized to wear the Enlisted Information Warfare Specialist (IW) and Enlisted Expeditionary Warfare Specialist (EXW) Pins along with the following awards: Bronze Star, Purple Heart, Defense Meritorious Service Medal, Meritorious Service Medal, Joint Service Commendation Medal, Navy and Marine Corp Commendation Medal, Army Commendation Medal, Joint Service Achievement Medal, Combat Action Ribbon, Joint Meritorious Unit Award, Good Conduct Medal (2), National Defense Medal, Afghanistan Campaign Medal, Iraq Campaign Medal (3), Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Navy and Marine Corps Overseas Service Ribbon (7), NATO Medal, Rifle Marksmanship Ribbon and Pistol Marksmanship Ribbon.
On January 16, 2019 Senior Chief Kent was killed in Manbij, Syria along with three others, while supporting Combined Joint Task Force – Operation Inherent Resolve. Senior Chief Kent left behind a husband and two sons, an 18-month-old and 3-year-old.
CTICS(IW/EXW) Shannon Kent is the only female cryptologist to be killed in action in the history of naval cryptology.
Station HYPO 
22 January 2020 at 15:10
After reading her bio she was surely an outstanding SCPO. However, this does not justify a ship being named for her. We have lost many marines to IED’S. Do we name ships after them? No. I do not agree with this campaign.
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23 January 2020 at 20:52
The service is called US Marines or MARINES, or even Marines. Just a little respect would help by just ini Cap the services or personal IE Sailors, Solders, Airman, Seaman, Navy, Marines, Army, Air Force, Coast Guard, National Guard.
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24 January 2020 at 03:23
Dear, Guest,
If used as a proper noun, it would be capitalized. Proper English does not require capitalization simply because the noun is important to the writer. And by the way, it’s “Soldier,” not “Solder.” Solder is used for repairing electrical/electronics systems and brass pipes.
Regards,
AEC(AW), USN, Retired
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22 January 2020 at 18:32
We refer to ships with masculine names as “she.” Would we refer to ships with feminine names as “he?” Just a thought. Anyway, I’m sure someday a ship will receive a feminine name and SCPO Kent would be a worthy recipient for this honor. But I’m satisfied to wait for those who make naming decisions to come to this eventuality without my pushing for it.
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22 January 2020 at 19:11
“someday a ship will receive a feminine name”
Have you ever heard of the USS Hopper?
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22 January 2020 at 21:27
I don’t think it’s appropriate to name a warship after a Bronze Star recipient, especially considering the fact that the overwhelming majority of naval Medal of Honor recipients still haven’t had a ship named after them. She received a posthumous advancement to Senior Chief Petty Officer, a medal for heroism, and several other pieces of government property bear her name (I know of facilities in Monterey, California, and Augusta, Georgia). I think we (the Navy) have done right by her. Please don’t go overboard.
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23 January 2020 at 02:26
It is perfectly appropriate.
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23 January 2020 at 15:53
Why are people pushing to name a ship after Senior Chief Kent but not CTT1 Steven P. Daugherty, another cryptologic technician killed by an IED? And if both of their sacrifices merit this honor, why does Senior Chief Kent get to cut in line? CTT1 Daugherty was killed in 2007.
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23 January 2020 at 12:19
In my humble opinion, there are numerous personnel who have performed acts above and beyond that have resulted in their eminent passing. As the Navy has just named a carrier for a WWII hero, Senior Chief Kent should wait in line for such an honor.
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24 January 2020 at 00:05
This is nonsense and smacks of entitlement. Did she win a Navy Cross? Did she win a MoH? Look, while her death is tragic, she is not alone as there are thousands of others who have been KIA in both conflicts and it is not right to name a ship after her simply because she is in a rate you are in, she is a woman or for any reason other than she is a hero who set herself apart from the thousands of others who have given the ultimate sacrifice. I am sorry for her husbands loss and her families loss, but unless you win a Cross or MoH you should not have a ship named after you.
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24 January 2020 at 00:26
She was a trailblazer for women in SOF and women in the military in general. Just because we haven’t named many ships for someone like her doesn’t me we shouldn’t start now.
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24 January 2020 at 00:27
Yes! Its about time a bad ass warrior woman gets this kind of attention. All hail the USS Shannon Kent!
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24 January 2020 at 04:17
She’s a hero! We need to honor and commemorate every hero! Besides a hero she was my friend! Give our daughters someone to look up to.
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24 January 2020 at 05:07
Destroyers\frigate names should evoke the fighting spirit of the crew. Names like Monsoor, McCampbell, Basilone, Miller, McFaul and their stories accomplish that. Her situation doesn’t.
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29 January 2020 at 03:08
I’ll give my support as a civilian to the campaign to name a fighting ship of the U.S. Navy, the USS Shannon M. Kent. Obviously, we cannot name ships, buildings—and even classrooms—after every member of our Armed Forces who gave their lives in time of war to our Country. I’d far rather see the United States name ships after members of our Armed Forces who gave their lives in combat than to the vast majority of our politicians, both living and dead.
A biography of Grace Hopper, titled GRACE HOOPER: ADMIRAL OF THE CYBER SEA, exists. It was written by Kathleen Broome Williams and published by the Naval Institute Press in 2004.
To date, our beloved Country and our beloved Navy have never named a ship after Captain Laurence F. Safford. I would very much love to see a ship—hopefully an intelligence ship—named after Captain Safford.
My thanks to every one of you highly dedicated people who serve our Country, our Navy, and our People as well as you do.
Most respectfully, Andy McKane, Maunaloa, Molokai, Hawaii (former HN, 24 August 1970 – 10 November 1971).
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11 May 2020 at 15:46
Not to belittle either her achievements or accomplishments, but I must disagree with this effort. MCPO(SS) Ret {Cryptology}
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12 May 2020 at 02:40
I’d support naming a ship after her, but there are many others whose lives were also given in the line of duty.
What I’d most like to see would be the United States Navy naming a ship, a capital ship of some type, the USS Laurence F. Safford. Safford got the organization he “fathered” off to a great start.
Thanks to all of you who serve our Navy, Marine Corps and your sister services in communications intelligence work!
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25 May 2020 at 15:55
Senior Chief Kent should get a ship named after her. She earned it. Doing what she did and beating cancer yeah she eared it. ENC(SW) retired.
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19 January 2021 at 02:53
There are many many Navy ships named after women since 1775. It doesnt hurt a damn thing to let her have her name on a ship. Five combat tours. That says alot.
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17 March 2021 at 20:16
I am all for this effort.
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4 January 2024 at 18:30
Mailing out 8 letters today!
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