by By Ensign Han Fiori-Puyu, Navy Office of Community Outreach
MILLINGTON, Tenn. – Lt. j.g. Matthew Owens, a native of Georgetown, South Carolina, was recently selected as Junior Officer of the Year for 2025 while serving with Expeditionary Medical Facility 150 Mike (EMF-M) in Jacksonville, Florida.
Junior Officer of the Year recognizes high-performing junior officers who exemplify the Navy’s core values of honor, courage and commitment.
Owens graduated from Georgetown High School in 2017. Additionally, Owens earned a bachelor’s degree in civil engineering from the University of South Carolina in 2021.
The skills and values needed to succeed in the Navy are similar to those found in Georgetown.
“Georgetown, South Carolina, is, at its core, a blue-collar town,” Owens said. “With a workforce centered on manufacturing, people there know the value of hard work and blaze a trail when there isn’t one. That work ethic and commitment to others shaped me personally and professionally.”
Owens joined the Navy four years ago, following in his grandfather’s footsteps, who served in World War II.
“I’ve always been interested in public service, and the engineering field, especially problem-solving and making people’s lives better, is a passion of mine,” Owens said. “The U.S. Navy Civil Engineer Corps provided the perfect avenue to combine those two worlds.”
Today, Owens serves as an assistant department head of the facilities management department.
“The most exciting part of serving in the U.S. Navy Civil Engineer Corps is the variety of jobs and duty stations available,” Owens said. “Civil Engineer Corps officers maintain shore infrastructure, including airfields, ports and support facilities, at every Navy and Marine Corps installation around the world. We also deploy with Seabee units to build and fight in austere environments.”
EMF-M consists of more than 400 sailors, including medical staff and support personnel. EMFs are staffed and sourced by Navy Medicine personnel from Navy Medicine Readiness and Training Commands (NMRTCs) at military treatment facilities across the country. The bulk of EMF-M’s personnel come from NMRTC Jacksonville and Naval Hospital Jacksonville.
Navy Medicine – represented by more than 44,000 highly-trained military and civilian health care professionals – provides enduring expeditionary medical support to the warfighter on, below, and above the sea, and ashore.
This year, the Navy is commemorating its contributions to the nation’s defense as the United States celebrates 250 years of independence. According to Navy officials, for more than 250 years, the Navy has sailed the globe defending freedom and protecting prosperity.
With 90% of global commerce traveling by sea and access to the internet relying on the security of undersea fiber-optic cables, Navy officials continue to emphasize that the prosperity of the United States is directly linked to recruiting and retaining talented people from across the rich fabric of America.
Owens has many opportunities to achieve accomplishments during military service.
“I am most proud of the amazing sailors and civilians I get to work with every day,” Owens said. “Their patriotism and dedication to the team make the job easy.”
Owens serves a Navy that operates far forward, around the world and around the clock, promoting the nation’s prosperity and security.
“Serving in the Navy is both humbling and extremely rewarding,” Owens said. “In the words of President John F. Kennedy, ‘Any man who may be asked what he did to make his life worthwhile, I think can respond with a good deal of pride and satisfaction: “I served in the United States Navy.”’
Source: US Navy Outreach
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