B-R grad an instructor at Surface Warfare Officers School in Newport

NEWPORT, R.I. — Lt. Cmdr. Matthew Furtado applied the lessons learned from Raynham to become one of the most elite surface warriors.

Those lessons, along with training and application learned during Furtado’s 12 years of naval service, turned into an opportunity to teach the most innovative tactics of surface warfare at Surface Warfare Officers School in Newport, Rhode Island.

Considered one of the Navy’s greatest assets, the instructors of Surface Warfare Officers School train and mentor the students who will use what they learn to lead sailors at sea. The students must pass a rigorous course structure in order to serve as surface warfare officers.

The mission of Surface Warfare Officers School is to ready sea-bound warriors to serve on surface combatants as officers, enlisted engineers, and enlisted navigation professionals to fulfill the Navy's mission maintaining global maritime superiority.

Once servicemembers finish training they are deployed around the world putting their skill set to work aboard Navy ships, such as aircraft carriers, cruisers, destroyers, amphibious warfare ships, mine warfare ships and littoral combat ships.

Furtado is a 2002 graduate of Bridgewater-Raynham Regional High School and a 2006 graduate of Norwich University.

There are many sacrifices and goals one must achieve to be selected as an instructor and Furtado is most proud of serving his country as a naval officer.

The future of surface warfare is rapidly changing, so the course and materials at Surface Warfare Officer School are constantly evolving to create the most dynamic, lethal, safe and professional warfighting team for the Navy the nation needs.

Surface warfare has been a part of world history for more than 3,000 years, and the United States has its stamp on that history with actions ranging from the American Revolution to modern day operations at sea around the world.

Furtado is continuing a family tradition of military service. “My grandfather was in the Army during World War II and my brother was an enlisted combat medic in the Army and now serves as an officer as a nurse in the Army,” said Furtado.

As Furtado and other instructors train future surface warriors, they take pride in what it means to serve their country in the United States Navy.