by Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Nathan Carpenter
MALAYSIA, Philippines – Navy Lt. Kira Devers-Jones, left, a native of Accokeek, Maryland, is participating in Pacific Partnership, the largest annual multinational humanitarian assistance and disaster relief preparedness mission in the Indo-Pacific region.
As a member of the Pacific Partnership 2019 team, Devers-Jones is one of more than 500 U.S. service members, volunteers and partner nation personnel taking part in a variety of projects including medical training, veterinary services, engineering projects, disaster response scenarios, and a variety of community outreach engagements.
Devers-Jones received her commission from the U.S. Naval Academy in May 2009 and was designated a naval aviator in July 2011. Her first operational assignment was to Helicopter Maritime Strike Squadron FOUR EIGHT in Mayport, Florida, as an SH-60B pilot. While there she deployed aboard USS Nicholas in support of anti-piracy operations and USS Leyte Gulf in support of anti-terrorism operations. Her jobs included Naval Warfare Publications Library Officer, Detachment Administrative Officer and Detachment Maintenance Officer.
Ashore, she was assigned to Helicopter Maritime Strike Squadron FOUR ONE as an instructor pilot after transitioning to the MH-60R platform. Her jobs included Assistant Navy Aviation Training and Operating Procedures Standardization Officer, Flight Lead, Navy Aviation Production Process Officer, and Assistant Training Department Head. She has accumulated over 1680 flight hours, including over 930 hours as aircraft commander.
Devers-Jones is currently assigned to Destroyer Squadron ONE as the air operations officer and safety officer. While there, she has deployed with the USS Carl Vinson in support of Western Pacific operations and Rim of the Pacific. She is currently embarked on USNS Brunswick as part of Pacific Partnership 2019, serving as the officer in charge of the mission in Vietnam and assistant officer in charge of the mission in the Republic of the Marshall Islands.
Devers-Jones earned a Bachelor of Science in Astrophysics from the U.S. Naval Academy and is currently working on her Master of Science in Space Studies at the University of North Dakota.
Pacific Partnership is the U. S. Navy’s humanitarian and civic assistance mission conducted with and through partner nations, non-governmental organizations and other U.S. and international government agencies to execute a variety of humanitarian civic action missions in the Pacific Fleet area of responsibility. Pacific Partnership is designed to strengthen alliances, improve U.S. and partner capacity to deliver humanitarian assistance and disaster relief and improve security cooperation among partner nations.