Andy the Admiral and the USS Shipshape follows Admiral Andy and his crew as they go about their daily activities aboard the Navy aircraft carrier, the USS Shipshape. Where did the idea for Andy the Admiral’s character come from?

Andy the Admiral was inspired by my thirty-year career in the Navy and by the wisdom and example of my father, who also served in the Navy. Throughout my life, I’ve seen how military service can teach leadership, teamwork, integrity, and resilience in very practical ways.

I wanted to create a character who embodied those values in a warm, encouraging, and approachable way for children. Andy is the kind of leader who is calm, kind, experienced, and always looking out for his shipmates. In many ways, he reflects the best qualities I saw in the leaders I admired throughout my naval career.

The book does a great job making Navy life feel exciting and approachable for kids. How did you decide which details of shipboard life to include?

In 2024, I spent time aboard the aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln, and that experience reminded me just how unique life at sea really is. Aircraft carriers are incredibly busy places filled with teamwork, precision, energy, and purpose, but they are also communities where friendships are formed, and people depend on one another every day.

When deciding what details to include, I focused on moments that children would find exciting and memorable while still remaining authentic to Navy life. I wanted young readers to experience the sights, sounds, teamwork, and adventure of serving aboard a carrier, but in a way that felt fun, positive, and understandable for families reading together.

One thing I appreciated is that the lessons about honesty, teamwork, and responsibility come through naturally in the crew’s actions rather than feeling overly preachy. Why was that important to you?

That was very intentional. Children usually learn best through stories, examples, and relationships rather than lectures. I wanted the lessons in the book to feel natural and woven into the adventure itself.

In the Navy, being a “shipmate” means taking care of one another, helping people when mistakes happen, and working together toward a common mission. I wanted children to see characters who support each other, tell the truth, work hard, and grow from challenges with encouragement and kindness. Those lessons become much more meaningful when they are experienced through the story instead of simply explained.

The book says good character is just as important as doing a job well. What do you hope a child remembers from that idea, and what would you say to a parent using the book to talk about character at home?

I hope children remember that character matters everywhere they go and in everything they do. Skills and talents are important, but honesty, kindness, courage, and integrity are what truly define a person over a lifetime.

For parents, I hope the book creates opportunities for simple but meaningful conversations at home about doing the right thing, helping others, admitting mistakes, and treating people with respect. Those lessons begin early, and stories can often help children understand them in a way that feels both memorable and encouraging.

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