Prosthetic Limbs and Caribbean Port Calls – An Interview with Amy Grable

Commander Amy Grable is currently serving as Product Line Manager for the Coast Guard’s Enterprise Information Systems Infrastructure. In this position she is responsible for delivering IT services to 42,000 men and women supporting every Coast Guard mission. Previous assignments include Commanding Officer of Electronic Systems Support Unit (ESU) Boston and other positions held at the Coast Guard Personnel Service Center, ESU Seattle, Acquisition Directorate, Research & Development Center, and CGC SPENCER (WMEC 905). CDR Grable holds a B.S. in Electrical Engineering from the Coast Guard Academy and a M.S. in Electrical Engineering from the University of Rhode Island.

CDR Grable talked to the WIT Young Professionals about her achievements and career path. One of her proudest accomplishments, she said, wascompleting her training at the Coast Guard Academy. One of the country’s five prestigious federal military academies, the USCGA is extremely selective and well-established. Graduates of the Academy are obligated to serve five years in the U.S. Coast Guard. CDR Grable says her time there was physically and mentally difficult but she loved the challenge.

Following graduation, newly commissioned ensigns report for duty aboard cutters and at sector offices in ports nationwide, so CDR Grable shared some of her travel stories. On sea duty, she transited through the Panama Canal, earning the “Order of the Ditch” certificate. Says the publishing website, “The traditional version of this certificate features traditionally clad mermaids. [The] revised version is exactly the same, but features more modestly clad mermaids.” CDR Grable also recalls the first time she crossed the equator, a ceremonial occasion common for all sea-going U.S. military forces.

If she had to drop everything and start a completely new life, CDR Grable would favor one of her passions, the medical field. She is interested in biomedical research and improving its related IT systems. By making information more accessible and centralized, systems relating to medicine could be more effective at saving lives and improving quality of life. CDR Grable isn’t only interested in the back end of technology, however; she also sees herself designing and improving prosthetic limbs, ensuring that they bring as much lifelike ability to their wearers as possible.

Currently, as IT manager for the Coast Guard’s enterprise information services infrastructure, CDR Grable provides oversight to major programs for the Coast Guard and has been recognized consistently for improving efficiency and responding to emergencies such as Superstorm Sandy. She actively mentors junior officers through the inter-service Officer Women e-mentor program, as well as civilians under her jurisdiction. We were thrilled to have the opportunity to chat with CDR Grable and are inspired by her accomplishments and her approachability alike.