Direct Line

NAS Sigonella Public Affairs Officer, Lt. Karl Schonberg

Ciao Sigonella! As some of you know, I turned over with Lt. Andriana Genualdi as the NAS Sigonella Public Affairs Officer in late March. I have enjoyed the opportunity to meet the NAS Sigonella community and hear your stories. I look forward to continue to getting to know as many people here as I can. I can honestly say, it has been nothing short of an incredible welcome thus far, so thank you.

So what kind of story do I have to offer? Prior to NAS Sigonella, I was stationed as a deployable public affairs officer out of San Diego. During those two and a half years I went underway on the USS Theodore Roosevelt, USS Nimitz, USS Ronald Reagan, and USS Barry and took part in the first combat deployment of the F-35B Lightning II’s aboard the USS Essex. I spent two weeks in Argentina as the spokesperson for the Undersea Rescue Command during an all-out search and rescue operation for the missing Argentine submarine, ARA San Juan. All of these experiences serve as the foundation of my time as a public affairs officer.

Before transferring to the public affairs community, I was a submarine warfare officer. I spent three and a half years aboard the USS New Hampshire, a fast attack submarine out of Groton, CT. I deployed to the Northern Atlantic where I crossed the Arctic Circle to become a “bluenose” and got to drive a submarine in the fjords of Norway. I was lucky enough to serve as an electrical assistant, main propulsion assistant, and assistant weapons officer. My time aboard the submarine serves as the foundation of my time as a naval officer.

Before my time as a submarine officer, I spent my summers throughout high school and during my time at the U.S. Naval Academy as a commercial fisherman in Alaska. I would work 20-hour days for a month straight, no matter the weather. It was grueling work. Work that has defined my father’s side of the family for generations. The deck-plates of fishing boats in Alaska serve as the foundation of my time as a young man.

It is only through the experiences and stories of yesterday which help make me who I am today. Today, I am lucky enough to serve here in NAS Sigonella side-by-side with you. I am excited for this chapter of my life and am excited to learn and share your stories. Please stop me when you see me, and I will gladly take the time to listen and help in whatever way I can.

So what do I envision as the NAS Sigonella public affairs officer? To me, my job is to relay problems to the right people and in-turn relay solutions to those who brought up the issue. Many times a problem isn’t necessarily a true problem, but rather a lack of effective communication. So with that rationale, I see myself as a problem solver. My goal while stationed here at Sigonella is to serve as a conduit for effective communications.

By the time I leave, I want you as the Sigonella community to know that your voice can and will be heard and that your concerns won’t just be swept under the rug. I want to ensure that whether you are stationed or deployed here, you aren’t caught off guard by the unexpected to the maximum extent possible. I will strive to provide open and honest communication that you need to feel comfortable while serving here. Please reach out anytime! Thanks Sig!