Lawrence Native Earns Advanced Historian Qualification Aboard Oldest Commissioned Warship Afloat: USS Constitution

Lawrence Native Earns Advanced Historian Qualification Aboard Oldest Commissioned Warship Afloat: USS Constitution

By Hospitalman Katrina Mastrolia, USS Constitution Public Affairs

Boatswain’s Mate 2nd Class Jason Santamaria, a native of Lawrence, Massachusetts, earned his advanced interpretive historian qualification aboard USS Constitution, Nov. 13.

The advanced interpretive historian qualification means that a sailor has studied and trained beyond the basic history of the USS Constitution and has learned about all aspects of the ship’s unique design, ship life during the age of sail, and the ship’s major historic battles.

“I live my life one-quarter of a mile at a time,” said Santamaria.

Santamaria, a 2014 graduate of Lawrence High School, has served in the Navy for five years and his previous duty station was the nuclear-powered aircraft carrier USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN 69).

Duty aboard USS Constitution is one of the Navy’s special programs, and all prospective crew members must meet a high standard of sustained excellence and interview to be selected for the assignment.

The active-duty sailors stationed aboard USS Constitution normally provide free tours and offer public visitation to more than 600,000 people each year as they support the ship’s mission of promoting the Navy’s history, maritime heritage, and raising awareness of the importance of a sustained naval presence.

USS Constitution is the world’s oldest commissioned warship afloat and played a crucial role in the Barbary Wars and the War of 1812, actively defending sea lanes from 1797 to 1855.

The ship earned the nickname of Old Ironsides during the war of 1812 after British cannonballs were seen bouncing off the ship’s wooden hull.

The USS Constitution was undefeated in battle and captured or destroyed 33 enemy vessels.