Featured Firstie: 1/C Peter Hillen

  POSTED ON: Friday, April 21, 2023 9:54 AM by mediarelations@usna.edu

This week’s Firstie Friday is Midshipman 1st Class (senior) Peter Hillen from Orinda, California. A SHAPE peer educator, a four year member of the Navy Water Polo, a double major in physics and history, and the training officer of 18th Company, Hillen is a well-rounded midshipman.  

As we continue through Sexual Assault Awareness and Prevention Month (SAAPM), Hillen mentions his appreciation for the academy as a SHAPE peer educator: “I think that our ability and willingness to have these difficult and serious conversations make the Brigade unique. I don’t think there are many other colleges where you can walk into a classroom or sit down in the dining hall and hear people talking about how to prevent sexual assault and how to promote a healthier culture. Here, especially this month, these kinds of conversations are much more common.” 

What brought Hillen to USNA was the ability to have a direct impact on those around him and in the fleet. “Nowhere else gives young people the same level of responsibility and affords us the same opportunity to go and make a positive impact right after graduation,” said Hillen.

Hillen attributes his favorite memory from his time at USNA to the COVID time period. During his 3/C Year, the Brigade had Thanksgiving on the yard due to the pandemic. This could have been an awful memory, but it turned out to be one of his fondest as he and his teammates ate a Thanksgiving dinner on the pool deck. Their company and the jokes they shared made it one of the best memories Hillen has from his time here, showing the impact of surrounding yourself with good people.

Hillen looks forward to graduating in May 2023, where he will commission into the Marine Corps.

Category: Midshipman, General Interest