WILLIAMSBURG, Va. –
Navy Expeditionary Logistics Support Group (NAVELSG) Commander, Rear Adm. Jacquelyn McClelland recently sat down with staff to talk about serving in the Navy, in honor of Women’s History Month.
"There's nothing easy about serving our Navy and this great nation," said McClelland. “Whether you’re a junior enlisted sailor or a senior officer, there are always difficult challenges that force difficult decisions. Having back-to-back deployments to the Middle East while working a full-time civilian career and maintaining a family was anything but easy. We gather strength from our families and synergy from our shipmates all while knowing that our service to our national is right and noble."
NAVELSG is responsible for providing expeditionary logistic capabilities for the Navy, primarily within the maritime domain of the littorals. The NAVELSG team provides a wide-range of supply and transportation support critical during competition, crisis, and conflict. Their missions include rearm, repair, resupply, refuel, replenish, restore, and revive integrated U.S. Naval forces.
NAVELSG is an operational reserve command, of which ten-percent of personnel are active-duty and ninety-percent are reserve forces, including McClelland.
McClelland draws inspiration from several mentors in her life.
"First and foremost is my late mother, Betty," said McClelland. “She provided a level of unconditional love and support that one can only dream of. No matter what the trials or tribulations I faced in life, she supported me each and every time even though she may not have agreed with my choices. I can’t say she was overly excited about my decision to join the Navy, especially the risks associated with overseas deployments, but she enthusiastically supported my decision nonetheless. There are a handful of flag officers that have served as my mentors and role models over the years – several of them females, who not only challenged the glass ceiling, but shattered it altogether. At the risk of missing a name, suffice it to say they know who they are as we stay in touch. Still to this day, I seek the advice and counsel of those who have been my role models.”
The admiral was asked what she hopes inspires Sailors in the future.
"Easy answer,” said McClelland, “the pride and satisfaction of wearing the Navy uniform and serving our great nation. The Navy, and all branches of the military, quickly demonstrates that the individual is only a small part of the team it comprises. All too often we hear and overuse the term synergy. Synergy really is the cornerstone of our Navy and as the saying goes, we’re only as effective as the sum of our parts. From Seaman to Admiral, each of us have a critical role to play in our Navy. Personal success doesn’t inspire others. It’s the combined success and teamwork that truly matters.”
Rear Adm. Jacquelyn McClelland commissioned as an officer of the U.S. Navy in 1990. McClelland holds a Bachelor of Business Administration with a major in Accounting from Temple University in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and a Master's Degree in Criminal Justice from Boston University. In her civilian career, she is a retired special agent with the Internal Revenue Service, Criminal Investigation who was assigned to the FBI Joint Terrorism Task Force, Washington, District of Columbia.