208. Female Navy EOD Tech (Ret.) | From Linguist to Naval Special Warfare DEVGRU & BUD/S

Jacquelyn Read

In Episode 208 of the Transition Drill Podcast, Jacquelyn “Jacque” Read’s journey from a rural Colorado childhood to retiring as a Navy Senior Chief is defined by resilience, adaptability, and a constant pursuit of challenge. A talented violinist turned high school athlete, she chose the Navy in 2001, beginning boot camp just before 9/11. Initially a Chinese linguist in Hawaii, her restless drive led her to the demanding Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) pipeline, where she proved herself in a male-dominated field through skill, grit, and reliability. Operational assignments ranged from shipboard missions and diving operations to humanitarian relief in Haiti, culminating in her selection for specialized work with Naval Special Warfare Development Group. Near retirement, a serious knee injury tested her adaptability once again, but also provided space to launch her own company focused on resilience and performance. Today, Jacque’s advice to veterans and first responders centers on preparation, self-awareness, and finding purpose beyond the uniform.

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Jacquelyn “Jacque” Read’s story begins in the rolling countryside outside Boulder, Colorado, where she grew up in a small farmhouse with her parents and two younger sisters. Surrounded by cornfields, a nearby llama farm, and the rhythms of rural life, Jacque learned early on to make her own fun, relying on creativity, resilience, and the companionship of her sisters. The absence of a large neighborhood meant that the sisters became each other’s constant playmates and occasional sparring partners. They explored the outdoors on foot and by bike, inventing games and testing their limits before returning home, determined to have resolved any squabbles to avoid parental discipline. That natural environment fostered both independence and cooperation, qualities that would serve Jacque well in her future military career.

Jacque's mother introduced her to music at a young age, a decision inspired by her own love for the arts. At just five or six years old, Jacque began learning the violin, practicing diligently and eventually performing with peers who would go on to attend world-renowned institutions like Juilliard. Discipline, precision, and the ability to perform under pressure were ingrained through these early experiences.

Yet, even as music shaped her focus and work ethic, the call of athletics grew louder. Her family’s love for sports meant there was always a ball, racket, or bat within reach. The open spaces became training grounds for games that required both physical skill and creative thinking. While music taught her discipline, sports awakened her competitive spirit, planting the seeds for a lifetime of chasing challenges.

By the time Jacque entered high school, her focus had shifted almost entirely to sports. She played year-round, thriving on the conditioning and competition that came with basketball and tennis. Basketball quickly became her favorite, and she began to dream of playing at the collegiate level. That goal took a hit when she tore her ACL, an injury that temporarily derailed her athletic ambitions but also reinforced her resilience.

Graduating in 2001, Jacque stood at a crossroads. She considered attending Pepperdine University, drawn to its California coastline and the dream of surfing between classes. Indiana University was also on her radar for its respected sports medicine program. Yet, the pull toward military service had been present since childhood. It was a calling she could not ignore, even though no one in her family had served before.

Without telling her parents, Jacque visited the local recruiting station. Her first stop was the Marine Corps, but she encountered overt sexism from the recruiters, an experience that both shocked and motivated her. Moving down the hall, she met a Navy recruiter who shared her love for tennis and introduced her to the idea of becoming a cryptologic technician interpreter. The position promised advanced language training, the chance to serve in an intelligence capacity, and, most enticing to Jacque, a year and a half stationed in Monterey, California.

Her strong performance on the ASVAB and Defense Language Aptitude Battery secured the role, along with a signing bonus. When she finally told her parents, their disapproval was clear, but Jacque was resolute. She would graduate that summer and head straight to boot camp, ready to leave Colorado behind for the start of an entirely new life.

Arriving at Great Lakes for Navy boot camp, Jacque experienced the jolt of being pulled from the familiarity of rural life into a rigid, high-intensity environment. The days were packed with drills, inspections, and constant direction from Recruit Division Commanders. While others struggled to adjust, Jacque found elements of the experience energizing. The discipline and physical demands aligned with the competitive mindset she had honed through sports.

Early in training, she discovered the Dive Motivator program, a specialized track where recruits could train with active-duty members of the Navy’s elite diving and special operations communities. Though she had enlisted as a linguist, Jacque jumped at the opportunity to push her physical limits in the pool and on the track. The program offered a glimpse into a side of the Navy she had not considered, one that was centered on teamwork, grit, and high-risk missions.

Halfway through her training, the course of her life, and the country, changed. On September 11, 2001, recruits were called together and informed of the terrorist attacks. The atmosphere shifted immediately. Fear and uncertainty spread through the barracks. Some recruits began thinking about ways to leave the service, realizing they had not signed up for war. Jacque, however, felt an even stronger conviction that she was in the right place.

Her family, initially skeptical of her enlistment, now supported her fully. Graduation came with an unexpected gift: her parents and sisters had traveled by train to be there, a relief since flights were still disrupted. The moment solidified Jacque’s commitment, not just to the Navy, but to making the most of the opportunities ahead. From Great Lakes, she was headed to Monterey for the language training that had drawn her to enlist in the first place.

Jacque arrived in Monterey, California, ready to begin the intensive language program at the Defense Language Institute. The campus sat in a place that seemed like a dream—cool ocean breezes, rugged coastline, and a vibrant outdoor culture. She had chosen Chinese as her language, knowing it would not only serve the Navy’s strategic needs but also position her for a future assignment in Hawaii, where she hoped to finally learn to surf.

The adjustment to the academic workload was steep. Chinese was unlike anything she had studied before, with tonal pronunciation, intricate characters, and a grammar structure that demanded focus and precision. At first, she struggled to find her rhythm. Then she realized that the discipline she had developed in music could be applied here. She approached each lesson like a violin piece, breaking it into manageable parts, practicing repeatedly, and layering complexity over time.

Outside the classroom, Monterey became a training ground for another passion. Jacque immersed herself in triathlons and endurance sports, using the 17-Mile Drive and nearby waters for biking, running, and swimming. Physical training became a form of active meditation, helping her clear her mind and balance the demands of her coursework.

Although she admired the surfers at local breaks like Asilomar, she decided to hold off on learning there, preferring to wait until she could do so in Hawaii’s warmer waters. Still, the sight of those waves was a constant reminder of her goal.

When she completed the program, Jacque left with more than language skills. She had gained confidence in her ability to master difficult challenges and had established a personal rhythm that blended discipline with adventure. Next, she was headed to Hawaii, where her Navy career and personal life would take dramatic new turns. 

Jacque’s first duty station after language school was Hawaii, a posting that seemed to match her vision of service and lifestyle. Assigned to a quality control role within her linguist community, she found the work steady and predictable, which allowed her to carve out time for the ocean sports she loved. Her days often revolved around the wind and waves, surfing in the mornings when conditions were best, kiteboarding when the thermals picked up, and fitting her work responsibilities in between.

During this time, she married an Army servicemember. It seemed like the logical step toward building a stable life, especially with the steady paycheck, benefits, and sense of security the military offered. Yet she quickly realized the relationship was not the right fit. The marriage ended in divorce, and the experience left her more determined to chart her own path without compromise.

With her personal life reset, Jacque began looking for her next professional challenge. The memory of the Dive Motivator program in boot camp and her early exposure to the Navy’s special operations communities resurfaced. She was living an enviable life on the North Shore, but part of her felt restless. The ease and comfort of her situation seemed almost too much, and she sensed that staying in this role would leave untapped potential on the table.

She decided to pursue Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD), a path that promised demanding training, high-stakes missions, and the chance to serve in a unique and impactful way. Preparing for the rigorous screening process would push her far beyond the comfort she had found in Hawaii and into the most challenging chapter of her Navy career.

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When Jacque committed to pursuing Explosive Ordnance Disposal, she knew it would mean stepping into one of the Navy’s most demanding career fields. The first hurdle was the screening process, which tested physical strength, endurance, and mental resilience. Candidates faced strict benchmarks in pushups, situps, pullups, swimming, and running. Jacque trained relentlessly, often with active-duty EOD technicians who mentored her on how to exceed, not just meet, the required scores. Their guidance pushed her beyond what she thought possible, setting a standard that would carry her through the pipeline.

The journey began with Dive Prep in Great Lakes, a three-week course designed to weed out those who were not fully prepared. From there, she moved to Panama City, Florida, for two months of dive school. Here she learned both open circuit scuba and the Mark 16 closed circuit rebreather system. The rebreather training was particularly dangerous, requiring constant monitoring to avoid potentially fatal oxygen imbalances. Military diving was far from recreational, it often meant operating in zero-visibility conditions, feeling her way along ship hulls or piers while navigating the disorienting pull of currents and tight spaces.

After dive school came the heart of the pipeline: EOD School at Eglin Air Force Base in Florida. The year-long program covered everything from conventional explosives to chemical, biological, and nuclear ordnance. Navy students stayed longer than other branches to complete specialized training on underwater and nuclear devices. The work demanded absolute precision. Even a small error in placement or measurement could mean failure during testing.

Jacque faced her own crisis during a critical exam involving the precise alignment of a shaped charge. For a moment, she considered letting herself fail. The constant pressure of being one of the few women in the program, combined with the difficulty of the technical material, had worn her down. An instructor noticed her hesitation and reminded her that she belonged in the program. That single moment of encouragement shifted her mindset. She refocused, passed the test, and moved forward with renewed determination.

By the time she earned her EOD pin, Jacque had learned more than technical skills. She had developed an unshakable confidence in her ability to adapt, solve problems, and operate under extreme pressure, qualities that would define her career in the field.

Earning her place in EOD was only the first step. Once Jacque arrived at her operational unit, the real test began. She was entering a tight-knit community where trust was everything and where new members, especially those who stood out, had to prove themselves through consistent performance. At the time, there were only a handful of women in the Navy EOD ranks, and she knew her actions would not only shape her own reputation but also influence how future female candidates might be received.

The scrutiny was not always overt, but Jacque felt it in subtle ways. Small hesitations, extra watchfulness, and unspoken expectations reminded her that she was under a magnifying glass. Rather than resent it, she used the pressure as fuel. She worked to master every task, from carrying the heavy bomb disposal robot to diving on hazardous underwater inspections. She wanted no one to question whether she could carry her weight, literally or figuratively.

Over time, the dynamic shifted. Her teammates began to see her not as “the woman on the team” but as a fully capable EOD tech. The camaraderie grew naturally through long days of training, shared hardships, and dangerous missions. Trust was earned through competence, reliability, and the willingness to take on the same risks as everyone else.

Jacque also valued the diversity of perspective she brought to the team. Problem-solving in EOD required creative thinking, and different viewpoints often led to more effective solutions. She learned to balance her drive for equality with the reality that her presence challenged long-standing norms. By proving herself day after day, Jacque secured her place in the unit, not as a token or exception, but as a trusted member of the brotherhood who happened to be a sister.

Jacque’s first operational assignment placed her aboard a Navy ship, a role she had not initially envisioned for herself. Shipboard EOD work was multifaceted. She and her team were responsible for responding to ordnance incidents on the vessel, inspecting aircraft munitions, and maintaining readiness to deploy for diving operations or land-based missions at a moment’s notice. They also participated in international training exercises, working alongside partner nations such as Argentina, Brazil, and Peru to share techniques and strengthen cooperative capabilities.

One of her most memorable early missions came in 2010, when a massive earthquake struck Haiti. Jacque was among the first responders flown from the ship to the devastated area. Wearing body armor and carrying her gear, she helped survey critical locations, escort supply deliveries, and coordinate with local forces to ensure aid reached those in need. It was a stark contrast to the precision and technical nature of EOD school, the mission in Haiti required adaptability, quick thinking, and cultural awareness in a chaotic environment.

Diving operations also played a central role during this period. Jacque and her team would be tasked with inspecting piers before ships pulled into port, ensuring there were no explosive threats. These dives often meant working in murky, low-visibility water, relying entirely on touch and practiced navigation skills to complete the task.

While shipboard life had its constraints, the variety of assignments and the chance to work with a wide range of military and civilian partners gave Jacque valuable operational experience. It also deepened her appreciation for the flexibility required in EOD. Whether responding to a humanitarian disaster, training with foreign forces, or inspecting an unfamiliar port, she was part of a team that had to be ready for anything.

Two years into her time at the mobile unit, Jacque received an unexpected opportunity. A formal letter arrived from the Chief of Naval Operations directing her to screen for a specialized female operator program in support of Naval Special Warfare Development Group. At first, she thought it was a prank from her teammates, who were known for testing her sense of humor. Once she realized it was legitimate, she understood the weight of the invitation.

The selection process was designed to identify candidates who could operate in highly sensitive, high-risk environments. It began with interviews and psychological evaluations, followed by rigorous physical testing and scenario-based assessments. Candidates were evaluated not only on their physical capability but also on adaptability, decision-making under stress, and the ability to integrate into elite, small-team environments.

Jacque advanced through each phase, eventually learning more about the program’s mission set. It required working closely with Special Operations Forces in roles that demanded both tactical proficiency and the ability to operate in environments where cultural considerations were critical. She would need to maintain peak physical readiness while also employing discretion, resourcefulness, and interpersonal skill.

Accepting the assignment meant moving from California to Virginia Beach, leaving behind a comfortable life and familiar network. The transition was worth it. At Development Group, Jacque trained alongside some of the most capable operators in the world, refining her skills in shooting, communications, intelligence gathering, and specialized mission support. The pace was demanding, the standards uncompromising, and the operational requirements often unpredictable.

For Jacque, it was the first time she viewed the Navy as a true career path rather than a chapter in her life. The mission, the people, and the opportunity to contribute in such a specialized capacity solidified her commitment to serving at the highest level.

After more than two decades of service, Jacque began to prepare for her transition out of the Navy. Her career had spanned linguist duties, EOD operations, and specialized work with Naval Special Warfare. By 2022, she was ready to start the next chapter, envisioning a life with more freedom to pursue her personal passions, especially surfing.

That vision shifted abruptly when she suffered a serious knee injury near the end of her career. She had dealt with injuries before, ACL tears, ankle scopes, and meniscus issues, but this time was different. The injury required surgery and an extensive rehabilitation plan. Instead of entering retirement in peak physical condition, she faced months of recovery, forcing her to slow down in a way she had never experienced.

The rehabilitation process was complicated by her decision to leave active duty rather than extend her service for full medical recovery. Jacque was ready to be done with military life, even if it meant working through rehab without the same resources she would have had while still in uniform. The injury removed her primary outlet for stress and self-expression, physical activity, and forced her to confront the mental and emotional aspects of transition head-on.

During this period, Jacque began laying the foundation for her next career. Drawing on her operational experience, leadership skills, and passion for training, she launched her own company. Her aim was to create programs that blended physical performance, resilience training, and the lessons learned from high-pressure environments.

Though the injury altered her immediate plans, it also gave Jacque time to reflect on her accomplishments and the path ahead. She recognized that her military career had prepared her for far more than she once realized, and that her next mission would be about using those experiences to serve in new and impactful ways.

Athena Defense Group, founded by Jacque Read, is focused on empowering individuals to protect themselves and others through specialized training. The company’s mission is to provide realistic, scenario-based instruction that blends her extensive military experience with practical skills for everyday life. By combining physical readiness, mental resilience, and situational awareness, Athena Defense Group aims to prepare clients, especially women, for challenges they may face, whether in personal safety, professional environments, or high-stress situations

Looking back on her career, Jacque emphasizes that success in the military or any high-intensity profession is rooted in resilience, adaptability, and a willingness to seek out challenges rather than avoid them. She believes that the moments of discomfort, whether in training, on deployment, or during transition, are the ones that shape both professional competence and personal character.

For those preparing to leave the military or a first responder role, Jacque stresses the importance of being proactive. She encourages building a network well before leaving, staying engaged with mentors, and exploring interests outside of the uniform. Waiting until the final months to prepare for transition can limit opportunities and add unnecessary stress. Instead, she suggests using the same discipline applied to mission planning in building a post-service roadmap.

Jacque also warns against defining oneself solely by a military or public safety identity. While pride in service is important, it should not limit the vision for what comes next. The skills developed in these careers, problem-solving under pressure, leading teams, adapting quickly—are highly transferable to the civilian world. Recognizing and articulating those strengths is key to opening doors in new industries.

She advises finding outlets that maintain both physical and mental fitness. For Jacque, sports like surfing and triathlons provided balance during her service and remain a source of focus and clarity today. Whether through athletics, creative pursuits, or community involvement, having something that fuels purpose outside of work is essential.

Finally, she underscores the value of lifting others along the way. Sharing lessons, offering mentorship, and being willing to speak openly about challenges can make a difference for those coming up behind. In her view, service does not end with a change of uniform—it evolves into new ways of contributing and leading.

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