Hartselle native serves with U.S. Navy
By Megan Brown
Navy Office of Community Outreach
SAN DIEGO – Cmdr. Larie Dixon, a native of Hartselle, serves with United States Navy Program Executive Office, Command, Control, Communications, Computers, and Intelligence (PEO C4I).
Dixon graduated from Hartselle High School in 1999 and earned a bachelor’s degree in materials science engineering from North Carolina State University in 2005. Additionally, Dixon earned a master’s degree in naval engineering and a master’s degree in mechanical engineering in 2015 from MIT.
The skills and values needed to succeed in the Navy are similar to those found in Hartselle.
“My dad made me feel like I was capable of doing whatever I wanted and that there were no limits to what I could do,” said Dixon. “If I thought I was limited, I never would have joined the Navy to begin with.”
Dixon joined the Navy 24 years ago.
“I joined the Navy for my desire to serve, for the education benefits and to experience the world,” said Dixon. “I am from a small town so I wanted to get out and experience new things.”
PEO C4I is the U.S. Navy’s first line to acquire the right communication and technology tools to deliver affordable, integrated and interoperable information warfare capabilities to the fleet.
With 90 percent 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.
“We will earn and reinforce the trust and confidence of the American people every day,” said Adm. Lisa Franchetti, Chief of Naval Operations. “Together we will deliver the Navy the nation needs.”
Dixon has many opportunities to achieve accomplishments during military service.
“I am most proud of graduating from MIT because it is something that I never would have imagined I could accomplish and the Navy allowed me to do that,” said Dixon. “I am also proud of all the work that got me there like getting accepted into the engineering duty officer community.”
Dixon serves a Navy that operates far forward, around the world and around the clock, promoting the nation’s prosperity and security.
“To me being in the Navy means camaraderie and serving others,” said Dixon.
Dixon is grateful to others for helping make a Navy career possible.
“I’ve been so lucky in my career because I have had people who have taken the time to help me and give me new opportunities,” added Dixon. “I am prior-enlisted and when I was at boot camp a Recruit Division Commander told me to apply for everything and to take all the opportunities I could get. There are so many opportunities in the Navy, and I am very grateful that I had people to steer me to them. In the engineering duty officer community, we have a very big culture of mentoring and that is one of the reasons I have been so successful.”
