Navy commanding officer and military influencer | Capt. Gervy Alota - S.O.S. Podcast #53

The way society communicates in the age of social media has transformed our lives. There are those rare military leaders among us who get that and have found a way to use innovative approaches to reach diverse audiences. Some do this by having fun, but more importantly, showcasing ship life through the work and dedication of our amazing Sailors. 

Meet Capt. Gervy Alota. Taking a non-traditional approach to a unit social media presence, he decided to start his own Instagram account using a personal, intimate touch. He now commands a massive audience with more than 70k followers. On his @coussjohnpmurtha page, you will see shipboard operations, sporting events, morale-building contests, and Sailors excited about the Surface Warfare Navy. Join us this Tuesday as he reflects on his time in command and how using Instagram aided in communicating the mission of the ship and the stories of his crew. 

Captain Gervy Alota is a Surface Warfare Officer and the son of a Navy Chief.  He is a native of San Diego, CA, a proud graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy, and was named team Captain of the Navy Football team his senior year.  He holds a Master’s degree from Webster University.

At sea, he deployed on USS John A. Moore (FFG 19), USS Pearl Harbor (LSD 52), and USS Comstock (LSD 45).  He served as the OIC and Commissioning Officer of the very first LCS MCM Mission Package Detachment, and commanded the USS Comstock (LSD 45) and USS Harpers Ferry (LSD 49). 

His staff assignments include Joint War Plans Officer for Third Fleet, Instructor for the Sea Combat Command Syndicate at Tactical Training Group Pacific, Chief Staff Officer for Amphibious Squadrons One and Five, Deputy Chief of Staff for Expeditionary Strike Group Three, Deputy Director for Surface and Mine Warfighting Development Center Sea Combat Division and Deputy Executive Assistant for the Vice Chief of Naval Operations. He has served on teams that have been recognized with numerous awards including Battle Efficiency, Golden Anchor Retention Excellence, and the CNO Safety awards. 

He is the recipient of multiple Meritorious Service Medals, Navy Commendation and Achievement Medals, and the Army Achievement Medal.

Find out more about his efforts here - https://www.instagram.com/coussjohnpmurtha/

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