As Boothbay Harbor prepares to celebrate the 64th annual Windjammer Days, this year’s theme proudly honors the past, present, and retired members of the United States Navy who have served our nation with dedication and distinction. 

By Capt. Cecily Walsh

Captain Cecily Walsh is a ‘01 graduate of the United States Naval Academy with a B.S. in naval architecture, a master of science in aeronautical engineering, and a master of science certificate in systems engineering. She is a naval flight officer initially in the P-3C & then P-8A.

Capt. Walsh was deployed to EUCOM and CENTCOM Areas of Operations in support of Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom. During her tour she was selected as the Commander, Patrol & Reconnaissance Group East Coast Naval Flight Officer of the Year. 

She is a graduate of the U.S. Naval Test Pilot School (Class 136).  During her follow on test tour in Pax, she selected as the Naval Test Wing Atlantic Test NFO of the Year 2011 for successfully completing the first P-8A torpedo separation launches. Leaving Pax River behind, Capt. Walsh was selected for AST’s Bureau of Naval Personnel, Sea Duty Component in Dallas, Texas where she doubled her flight time.  At this point she transitioned to an Aerospace Engineering Duty Officer (AEDO). 

She joined the National Reconnaissance Office where she quickly learned all about space assets while flying a desk as the LSPO Spacecraft Systems IPT. Then she returned back to flying at AST in their D.C. office as the IPT Lead for Production of the Advanced Airborne Sensor (AAS).

Capt. Walsh then served as USNA’s Associate Chair of the Aerospace Engineering Department & VOST O-Rep where she encouraged midshipmen to test the limits of the Navy 44 in multiple offshore races helping midshipmen build their personal sea story inventory through highly challenging experiences. During that time, she did not lose a single midshipman and only took two midshipmen to the ER and self-sustained one broken hand.

Finally, she has returned to the best team in the Navy as the commanding officer at Advanced Sensor Technologies Program Office where she gets to fly again and deliver advanced technology to the war fighter.

She lives in Annapolis, is married to CDR John Walsh, USN, who is happily retired from the service and enjoys more time in Cecily’s favorite place in Maine. She has a daughter Daphne (17), son Sawyer (8), a terrier named Tiller, a chocolate lab named Rudder, and she continues to let her children ride Bad Pony.