By Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Joshua Samoluk, USS Constitution Public Affairs

West Milford, New Jersey, native, Navy Lt. Travis Leary, bid farewell to the officers and crew after completing a successful, four-year tour aboard USS Constitution, May 27.

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

“Serving these last four years was an absolute honor for me and it was definitely a once in a lifetime opportunity,” said Leary.

Leary has served in the Navy for nine years, and his previous assignments include the Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland, the Arleigh Burke-class Aegis destroyer USS Chung-Hoon, and the nuclear powered aircraft carrier USS Gerald R Ford.

Leary is a 2008 graduate of West Milford High School and a 2012 Naval Academy with a Bachelor’s of Science in English.

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

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.