Davisville, Feb. 17, 2020: Ryan Easterday, a U.S. Navy commander from Davis

Commander Ryan Easterday watched Star Trek as a kid growing up in Davis, and liked the idea of leading a ship. When he was ready for college, the notion still had enough appeal for him to include the U.S. Naval Academy among the schools where he applied – and when his final choice came down to the University of California Santa Cruz or the academy, he chose the Navy. Easterday now commands the USS John McCain, a destroyer with a crew of about 320 based in Japan, and on today’s Davisville he talks about why he went to Annapolis instead of Santa Cruz, his ship, the Navy, some of his experiences, and how growing up in Davis has shaped him as an officer.