A Newark native is helping the U.S. Navy develop and operate unmanned vehicles designed to extend its capabilities beneath the sea.

Petty Officer 1st Class Isaam Williams is assigned to Unmanned Undersea Vehicle Group 1, the Navy’s first unmanned undersea group, based at the Naval Undersea Warfare Center in Keyport, Washington.

Williams, a 2001 graduate of St. Benedict’s Preparatory High School in Newark, has served in the Navy for 21 years. He currently works as an information systems technician specializing in electronic warfare.

“I joined the Navy for career opportunities,” Williams said. “The year I joined was the same year my uncle retired from the military, and that had an impact on me joining.”

Established in 2017, Unmanned Undersea Vehicle Group 1 develops, tests and operates unmanned undersea vehicles that can reach environments that may be difficult or unsafe for human crews, according to Navy officials.

The group operates autonomous vehicles ranging from the smaller Iver series to Orca, an 85-foot-long, extra-large diesel-electric unmanned undersea vehicle. Navy officials say sailors assigned to the unit can modify and adapt the vehicles for different missions.

Williams said growing up in Newark helped prepare him for working with people from different backgrounds in the close quarters and high-pressure environment of the Navy.

“I learned a lot about the value of a good work ethic and how to manage workplace nuances,” Williams said. “On a submarine, you work in close quarters with people who come from different places, and not everyone has the same values. It's important to be able to work with them in stressful situations.”

Williams said some of his proudest achievements are receiving Navy and Marine Corps Achievement medals for completing a deployment and a tour.

“Serving in the Navy means a lot to me,” Williams said. “The Navy has made me a better person. I am a more skilled professional. I am a better leader, and I am a more well-rounded person.”