She dreamt of the vast lengths of flight decks and the sleek lines of naval aircraft.

Now her dedication and passion for all things navy has paid off with the Chief Petty Officer (aviation technician avionics) from HMAS Albatross 816 Squadron passing her Aircraft Maintenance Charge Certificate Board earlier this month.

The qualification means CPO Williams is authorised as a Flight Senior Maintenance Sailor (FSMS).

“It gives me dedicated technical responsibility for aircraft and a team of maintainers to operate away from Albatross,” she said.

“As a personal achievement I’m pretty stoked about it. I’m the first girl in my squad to get it and the only female chief at the squadron, so it is nice.

“I’m pretty much trailblazing for the girls in my squad.”

The qualification is a milestone achievement.

There is only one rank, Warrant Officer, which is higher.

CPO Williams was born in Hobart, where she also began navy cadets.

“We had a Seahawk land down at Anglesea Barracks and basically I had a CPO, someone doing my job now, who showed me over the aircraft,” she said.

“Pretty much from there I decided I’d love to do his job.”

In year 9 Ms Williams’ parents flew her from Hobart all the way to Nowra for two weeks’ work experience on base.

“That was it,” she said.

Two months after she turned 16, Ms Williams was signed up as an ATV.

Now 34, she has lived in the area since 1998, residing at St Georges Basin with her three children, aged 17, 14 and five.

“My eldest girl has been talking about maybe joining the navy, she’s really proud,” CPO Williams said.

“My brother and sister have also been in the navy, so the immediate family is pretty navy flavoured.”

She said it was her passion for the job which has seen her through.

“The passion I have with the navy, it comes from loving the job, loving the people,” CPO Williams said.

“The thing I enjoy most is going to sea.”

She has been three times to the Middle East, with her ultimate goal to end up there again with a team and aircraft.