SAN DIEGO—Lt. Patrick McInerney, an Annapolis native, has taken his hometown’s values of hard work and teamwork to the skies as a pilot with Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron (HSC) 21, the “Blackjacks,” at Naval Air Station North Island in San Diego. A 2017 graduate of Archbishop Spalding High School in Severn and a 2021 U.S. Naval Academy alumnus with a bachelor’s degree in quantitative economics, McInerney now flies the MH-60S Sea Hawk, the Navy’s most advanced rotary-wing maritime platform, in missions critical to national security.
“Sports taught me the value of hard work and being part of a team,” McInerney said. “My high school was also challenging academically and competitive in sports, which showed me how to handle long days over and over. Additionally, coming from a big family taught me to take on responsibility and how to always keep a positive attitude.” Growing up in Annapolis, just blocks from the Naval Academy, McInerney was inspired by the institution and his father, a Navy veteran. “I wasn’t very creative, and it seemed like an incredible opportunity if I could get accepted,” he said. “My dad also served in the Navy and was a role model for me.”
McInerney joined the Navy four years ago and now serves with HSC 21, which supports missions like Airborne Mine Countermeasures, Combat Search and Rescue, Anti-Surface Warfare, Combat Logistics, and medical evacuations. The squadron’s work is vital to the Navy’s global operations, especially as the service celebrates its 250th anniversary in 2025. “America is a maritime nation, and for 250 years, America’s Warfighting Navy has sailed the globe in defense of freedom,” Navy officials stated, emphasizing the importance of recruiting talent like McInerney to protect 90% of global commerce that travels by sea and secure undersea fiber-optic cables critical to internet connectivity.
For Southern Maryland residents, McInerney’s journey resonates deeply. Anne Arundel County, home to Annapolis and a short drive from St. Mary’s, Charles, and Calvert counties, shares the region’s strong naval ties, with the Naval Academy anchoring its identity. Archbishop Spalding High School, known for its rigorous academics and competitive athletics, prepared McInerney for the demands of naval service. His achievements include graduating from the Academy, earning his pilot’s wings, and flying alongside friends in other Navy communities. “I am proud of graduating from the Academy, earning my ‘Wings’ and being able to fly with friends in other communities,” he said.
McInerney’s service reflects the Navy’s forward-deployed mission, operating worldwide to promote U.S. prosperity and security. “I am grateful for the opportunity to serve,” he said. “As a Catholic, being able to serve is a meaningful, really fun and extremely gratifying experience.” He credits his family for his success, particularly his parents, Joe and Ellen, who instilled confidence, and his siblings—Danny, Liam (a 2025 Naval Academy graduate), Aidan (a junior at the Academy), Maggie, and Finn—for their support.
Southern Maryland’s proximity to naval installations, like Naval Air Station Patuxent River in St. Mary’s County, fosters pride in local service members like McInerney. The region, with its rich military history and communities of roughly 115,000 in St. Mary’s and 170,000 in Charles County, celebrates its contributions to national defense. As the Navy marks its 250th year, McInerney’s path from Annapolis to the Blackjacks highlights the region’s role in shaping leaders who serve far beyond its shores.
