Lieutenant Gretchen Doane is from Tavares, Florida, and is a 1984 graduate of Thornton High School in Thornton, Colorado. She enlisted in the Navy in May 1985 as a non-designated seaman.

Gretchen reported to USS Yosemite (AD 19) homeported in Mayport, Florida, in September 1985 where she worked in deck department. She was advanced to YN3 and worked in the administrative and legal departments while she made her first six-month deployment in 1986. In September 1987, she reported to Patrol Squadron 30 (VP-30) at Naval Air Station (NAS) Jacksonville, Florida, where she served in the personnel and administrative departments.

In May 1989, Gretchen reported to Naval Technical Training Center (NTTC) Corry Station in Pensacola, Florida, where she was advanced to YN2. Gretchen reported to Commander, U.S. Forces Korea in Seoul in September 1991 where she worked on intelligence products in a joint environment. In October 1992, she reported to Helicopter Anti-Submarine Light Squadron 40 (HSL-40) Naval Station Mayport, Florida, where she was advanced to first class petty officer and served as the leading petty officer of the administrative department. Gretchen qualified as an Enlisted Aviation Warfare Specialist during this tour.

Gretchen reported to NAS Keflavik Iceland, in March 1995. She was assigned to the public works department where she was selected as Sailor of the Quarter, and she was then handpicked as the executive officer’s yeoman. She was selected as the Military Member of the Year for Commander, Fleet Air Keflavik, and she also completed her Associates Degree in General Studies with the University of Maryland. In November 1997, Gretchen reported to Assault Craft Unit 4 (ACU-4) at Little Creek Naval Base in Norfolk, Virginia, and was assigned as the personnel officer. In September 1998 she was advanced to chief petty officer.

In December 1998, Gretchen was reassigned to Fighter Squadron 41 (VF-41) at NAS Oceana, Virginia, as the Admin/Personnel leading chief petty officer. She completed work-ups and a combat deployment to Kosovo in 1999 in support of Operation Allied Force and earned her Enlisted Surface Warfare Specialist qualification. Gretchen was selected for limited duty officer during this tour and was commissioned in the back seat of an F-14 Tomcat in January 2001.

In February 2001, she reported to USS Nimitz (CVN 68) in Norfolk, Virginia, as the ship’s secretary. She completed a homeport change to San Diego, California, and an eight-month combat deployment to the Arabian Gulf in support of Operations Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Freedom. Gretchen earned her officer of the deck underway qualification while onboard Nimitz.

Gretchen reported to Naval Station, Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, in November 2003 where she served for 17 months as the Base Administrative Officer and was then assigned to Commander, Training Airwing 6 at NAS Pensacola in May 2005.

Gretchen joined the Blue Angels in September 2005. Her decorations include the Joint Service Commendation Medal, three Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medals, five Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medals and various personal and unit awards.