Passaic County Native Serves Aboard U.S. Ballistic Missile Submarine

A Passaic County man is serving aboard the USS Henry M. Jackson, one of the most advanced ballistic missile submarines in the world, the United States Navy announced Monday.

Seaman Javier Ramos-Gaspar, a Passaic native, is an electronics technician on the boat, one of 14 Ohio-classi ballistic missile submarines in the Navy's fleet.

Ramos-Gaspar is responsible for maintaining all electronic radio equipment used for communicating on and off the ship.

"I have enjoyed my job because it has given me the opportunity to meet and work with a new group of people," said Ramos-Gaspar, a 2013 Passaic High School graduate. "Serving aboard this submarine has allowed me to gain a greater knowledge. I really enjoy the things I get to learn and different technology I get to work with."

The USS Henry M. Jackson is 42 feet wide, weighs more than 16,500 tons, and has a nuclear-powered propulsion system. On average, the ship is deployed for 77 days at sea, followed by 35 days in port for maintenance.

Photo: Seaman Javier Ramos-Gaspar — Courtesy of the Navy Office of Community Outreach