A veteran’s journey from a job layoff to Navy service to a career at Norton Healthcare.

Story by: Ryne Dunkelberger on November 20, 2023

For one Navy veteran now building a career at Norton Healthcare, life’s journey so far has taken her from the West End of Louisville to an East Coast naval base, to the Persian Gulf aboard a warship and back to her hometown.

Here’s her story.

In 2003, amid a layoff from her job working in health care insurance, Ronnika Flippins found herself at a crossroads. The challenges of providing for her family weighed heavily on her mind while she was going through a marital separation. The mother of two had an idea of what she wanted to do. For the past couple years, Ronnika also had served in the Navy Reserve. As a reservist, she went to the base once a year for two weeks.

“Every time I would go, I was around active-duty soldiers and saw how they lived, what they did, and how they treated others. And I said to myself, ‘I’m 22, I’m able-bodied, and I think I can do this full time.’”

The decision to transition to full-time military service was not just a career move but a commitment to serving her country while learning about sacrifice.

“I was unable to provide for my two children, and I kept wondering what good am I, as a mom and as a leader, if I can’t provide for what they need,” Ronnika said. “Very quickly, I understood the sacrifice it took to serve.”

As an active-duty sailor, Ronnika was stationed at Naval Station Norfolk, Virginia, aboard the USS Kearsarge. A boatswain’s mate, Ronnika was a deck handler, drove the ship under the direction of the captain, stood watches and maintained the ship.

Through her service, Ronnika’s perspective broadened significantly.

“Growing up in the West End of Louisville, I only saw certain people and certain ways of life. My whole military experience forced me to communicate with all kinds of people. It stripped away any sense of entitlement and replaced it with an understanding of teamwork, discipline and attention to detail,” Ronnika said.

In 2004, Ronnika and her crew had an unscheduled deployment.

“They called us up and said we had two weeks to take care of our lives. Just like that, we were out to sea,” Ronnika said.

The Kearsarge deployed to the Persian Gulf to transport elements of the 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. After offloading soldiers and equipment, the Kearsarge and its crew returned to Norfolk three months later.

During a six-month deployment in 2005, Ronnika experienced firsthand the dangers and uncertainties of serving in a conflict zone. While on watch duty, Ronnika had to inspect a boat at a pier in Jordan. Unable to pull in the boat by herself, she called a fellow shipmate from a nearby warehouse to help.

Moments later, a missile flew overhead and into the warehouse at the pier.

“In a split second, I heard a whistle overhead and then a deafening sound of an explosion. I immediately started running, and all I could think about was my kids,” Ronnika said.

Soon, Ronnika learned that a Jordanian soldier who was standing guard with her shipmate was killed in the attack. The unexpected missile attack left an indelible mark, creating an enduring sense of concern whenever aircraft noise breaks the silence.

Transitioning to civilian life after military service and moving back to her extended family in Louisville, Ronnika embarked on a journey through various roles in health care, where she continued finding fulfillment in providing service to others.

Ronnika started at Norton Healthcare as a pharmacy technician at Norton Children’s Hospital. After graduating from the University of Louisville with a Bachelor of Science in organizational leadership and learning, she transitioned to a senior human resources associate position.

“My military experience did so much for me. Most importantly, it introduced me to people from all over. It forced me to take off my biased lens and helped me become more understanding, more inclusive, more accepting,” Ronnika said.

Norton Healthcare is grateful for Ronnika and those like her who have continued their service to others. Her journey is a testament to the strength and character that veterans bring to both their professional and personal lives, long after they leave active duty.