VA-02: Elaine Luria (D)
About Elaine:
August 15, 1975: Elaine Luria born in Birmingham, Alabama, to Michelle and Herbert Luria.
1993-1997: Luria majored in Physics and History, with a minor in French, at the United States Naval Academy.
May 23, 1997: Luria graduated from the United States Naval Academy and was commissioned as Ensign in US Navy.
1997: Luria completed Surface Warfare Division Officer Training and Tomahawk Land Attack Missile Launch Officer Training.
1998-1999: Luria was forward-deployed to Japan while stationed on board USS O’Brien. Additionally, deployed to Middle East for six months as part of Middle East Forces Deployment, enforcing oil sanctions against Iraq.
2000: Luria became one of the first women to attend the US Naval Nuclear Power School.
2000-2002: Luria stationed on board USS Harry S. Truman. During this tour, Luria completed her Naval Nuclear Engineer certification. She stood watch operating nuclear reactors as Engineering Officer of the Watch.
2002-2004: Luria served as Flag Aide to the Commander of the U.S. Seventh Fleet, once again forward-deployed to Japan and stationed on board the flagship USS Blue Ridge.
2004: Luria graduated from Old Dominion University with a Master’s Degree in Engineering Management.
2005: Luria attended Surface Warfare Officer Department Head Training.
May 7, 2005: Luria married Robert Blondin in Norfolk, VA.
2005-2006: Luria stationed on board USS Mason and was deployed to the Middle East and Mediterranean in support of Maritime Interdiction Operations. She was deployed in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom as Operations Officer.
2006-2008: Luria stationed on board USS Enterprise, where she was deployed twice to the Middle East, Mediterranean, and Western Pacific where she operated nuclear reactors to conduct air operations, striking targets in Iraq and Afghanistan. She served as the Reactor Training Officer, responsible for the training of all 700 nuclear operators on board the carrier and as Engineering Officer of the Watch, overseeing the operation of 8 nuclear reactors.
2008-2010: Shore duty as Maintenance Coordinator of USS Dwight D. Eisenhower.
September 7, 2009: Luria’s daughter, Violette, is born.
2010-2012: Completed Naval War College Diploma and worked to develop defense policy for meeting intelligence systems integration and requirements across all services for the U.S. Joint Forces Command.
2013-2014: Luria served as Executive Officer on board USS Anzio, where she was second in command of a guided missile cruiser with crew of 300 sailors. USS Anzio participated in UNITAS with allied South and Central American navies and operated in the Atlantic in support of Carrier Strike Group deployment training.
October 2013: Opened the Norfolk location of Mermaid Factory.
2014-2017: Commanded combat-ready unit of 400 sailors as Commanding Officer of Assault Craft Unit TWO.
May 2015: Opened the Virginia Beach location of Mermaid Factory.
June 1, 2017: Retired from the U.S. Navy.
The biographical information above was sourced from the campaign website; see link above for more information.
