Commander(S) Alexa Goodrich-Houska, U.S. Navy

For Alexa Goodrich-Houska, a career in the U.S. Navy has been defined by excellence, resilience, and the courage to live authentically. A Surface and Anti-Submarine Warfare Tactics Instructor, Alexa has served aboard four warships, graduated at the top of their class in advanced warfare training, and deployed multiple times in some of the world’s most contested waters.
Yet, their most profound journey was not just through naval warfare—it was discovering and embracing their true identity. "From a young age, I knew I was different," Alexa recalls. "I grew up in the Midwest, a place of contradictions—a candy shell of politeness covering deep-seated expectations about gender and conformity. I tried to fit in, to push myself further into masculinity, but no matter how strong, how fast, how tough I made myself, I still looked in the mirror and hated what I saw."
The Navy became both a challenge and a sanctuary. Alexa threw themselves into the profession of arms, excelling as a warfighter, strategist, and mentor. They deployed aboard ships, led teams, and built a reputation as an expert tactician. But the pressure to conform remained. “The Navy values conformity,” Alexa says. “I had to play a role, and I did it well. But I was always fighting a battle within myself.”
That battle reached a breaking point during a high-stress combat deployment. "I was isolated, exhausted, and for the first time, I had no distractions. I realized I couldn’t keep living in a way that wasn’t true to myself." A graphic novel, O Human Star, about a character who transitions after death, sparked something deep inside. “I remember sitting on the flight deck, staring at the ocean, thinking, ‘If I had the choice, I would do this. I would be me.’”
Two years later, Alexa finally made that choice—to embrace their identity, to live authentically, and to refuse to hide any longer. It has been a journey of growth, of finding community, and of leading by example. “Coming out in the Navy, an inherently rigid and binary system, hasn’t been easy,” they admit. “But I have no regrets. I’ve locked the closet door behind me.”
Now, Alexa continues to serve with pride and purpose, proving that strength is not about playing a role—it’s about being true to yourself and lifting others up along the way.
You can read more of Alexa's story in 𝘞𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘝𝘢𝘭𝘰𝘳 𝘈𝘯𝘥 𝘝𝘪𝘴𝘪𝘣𝘪𝘭𝘪𝘵𝘺: 𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘕𝘦𝘹𝘵 𝘊𝘩𝘢𝘱𝘵𝘦𝘳 𝘰𝘧 𝘛𝘳𝘢𝘯𝘴𝘨𝘦𝘯𝘥𝘦𝘳 𝘔𝘪𝘭𝘪𝘵𝘢𝘳𝘺 𝘚𝘦𝘳𝘷𝘪𝘤𝘦!

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