Secretary Carter’s Calls to Service Members on Christmas
Dec. 25, 2015

Today, Secretary of Defense Ash Carter called service members taking part in U.S. operations around the world to wish them a Merry Christmas, according to Pentagon Press Secretary Peter Cook.

“Secretary Carter expressed his appreciation for their service in defending the United States and reminded them that they are in America’s thoughts and prayers,” said Cook. “In each of the calls, Secretary Carter noted that he knows how difficult it is to be away from home during the holidays, and thanked the service members and their families for their sacrifice to the nation.”

Secretary Carter spoke with the following service members:

U.S. Army 1st Lt. Brenna Goodman, 25, of North Dakota. Goodman manages her unit’s operations. She also ensures accountability of medical supplies and her unit’s equipment.

U.S. Marine Corps Sgt. Shea Ramsden, 25, of Loveland, Colo. Ramsden is a squad leader deployed in the Central Command area of responsibility. He applied his experiences from several deployments to provide comprehensive training to maintain overall unit readiness.

U.S. Navy Lt. Ryan Worrell, 30, of Hudson, Wis. Worrell is a detachment commander assigned to the Central Command area of responsibility. His actions while deployed have led to several successful missions there. Worrell has also been a key liaison with U.S. allies in the region.

U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. Edward Ford, 29, of Sacramento, Calif. As a command post controller in the Central Command area of responsibility, Ford manages aircraft traffic and directs emergency response actions. His efforts have contributed to the successful transport of personnel and over 16,000 tons of cargo.

“Secretary Carter was grateful for the opportunity to talk to these young leaders,” said Cook. “He asked that each pass on his best wishes to their units as well.”