Bradenton sailor finds purpose in Navy medicine

Petty Officer 3rd Class Matthew Gangemi, a native of Bradenton, is serving aboard the USS Essex, a U.S. Navy warship participating in the biennial Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC) exercise in and around the Hawaiian Islands.

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Gangemi graduated from Braden River High School in 2022 and joined the Navy four years ago.

“I joined the Navy because I have always had a passion for medicine and wanted the opportunity to truly help people when they need it most,” Gangemi said. “We are trained to care for others during some of the most difficult moments of their lives, and knowing I can make someone’s worst day a little better makes this career incredibly rewarding. My father also served in the 82nd Airborne Division, and growing up around his dedication to service inspired me to follow a similar path.”

As the world’s largest international maritime exercise, 31 nations, approximately 40 surface ships, five submarines, 14 national land forces, over 140 aircraft and more than 25,000 personnel were participating in RIMPAC 2026. This exercise provides a unique training opportunity that helps participants foster and sustain cooperative relationships that are critical to ensuring safety at sea and security on the world’s oceans. RIMPAC 2026 marks the 30th exercise in a series that began in 1971.

“RIMPAC has been an outstanding experience,” said Gangemi, who serves as a hospital corpsman. “It has been rewarding to work alongside medical personnel from our partner nations and see that, regardless of country or language, our commitment to patient care and medical procedures is remarkably similar. That shared dedication strengthens our ability to work together during real-world operations.”

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During RIMPAC, a network of adaptive partners train and operate together in order to strengthen their collective forces and promote a free and open Indo-Pacific.

“I would like to thank my wife, Keely, for her love, support and understanding throughout my military career,” Gangemi said. “She understands the unique challenges of being a military spouse and has been my greatest source of strength.”

Submitted by Chief Yeoman Vicki Sonnenberg, Navy Office of Community Outreach

This article originally appeared on Sarasota Herald-Tribune: Bradenton sailor finds purpose in Navy medicine

Reporting by Special to the Herald-Tribune, Sarasota Herald-Tribune / Sarasota Herald-Tribune

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This story was originally published September 6, 2026 at 6:30 AM.