Lieutenant John Frnka was born in Coppell, TX. He graduated with from the University of Texas at Arlington in 2014 with a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering. Following his studies, he attended Officer Candidate School in Newport, RI and was commissioned as an Ensign and reported to the Nuclear Power School in Charleston, SC. Following a year of nuclear training, LT Frnka was assigned to the USS Albany, a Los Angeles class fast attack submarine based in Norfolk Virginia.
While serving with the Albany, LT Frnka held primary responsibilities as the Reactor Controls Assistant, Assistant Weapons Officer and Communications Officer. LT Frnka also volunteered to attend Navy Dive School to run diving operations on the Albany. While onboard Albany LT Frnka oversaw the completion of a successful engineered overhaul by leading major operations such as rod testing, steam operations testing and critical reactor operations testing. Post overhaul, LT Frnka played a supervisory role in major operations such as ICEX 2018 (which included a visit to the North Pole), Submarine Command Course 58 and 60 where he oversaw the safe launching of over 50 exercise torpedoes, and USS Abraham Lincoln’s Composite Training Unit Exercise 2019.
His personal awards include two Navy and the Marine Corps Achievement Medals.