I did two years on a destroyer squadron staff,
the squadron would take a group of ships and
we'd go out to sea.
The evacuation from Lebanon.
We went into New Orleans and in fact we gave care.
Sharp guard operations in the Adriatic Sea.
I love what I do, I love to work with airplanes.
The Navy has evolved significantly from, you
know, our early beginnings.
This country is - is - is made up of so many
different people and so many different cultures.
I was in the lower pay grade, I mean the lower
that anybody coming to the military can come in
as a - as a - right in the bottom. My name is
Captain Sylvester DelRosario and I'm the
Director of Diversity for the Navy Recruiting
Command. And I was able to make a Chief Petty
Officer in a year - in a year and two month.
And from there, I got my Commission as a Ensign
ah - from there - ah - 20 years later I'm here
wearing my Captain bars. My family was very
proud. They were there and I saw it in their
face, saw even tears from their faces when -
during the ceremony.
The, the whole desire to go Navy was to fly
airplanes, and to maybe, one day, command a
squadron. My name is Arthur James Johnson
Junior, Rear Admiral, United States Navy.
Early in my career when I was - uh - in my early
20's, um I - uh - got my wings. I went through
flight training and I think I was winged at
probably 22. And, my first assignment I was
selected to go back to teach other people how to
fly. And uh - so that was pretty amazing as a
young 22 23 year old, teaching other people,
some of them older than you, how to fly
airplanes.
Today, I'm the highest ranking Latina or
Hispanic woman in the Navy. My name is Captain
Cathy Contres and I am the Commandant at the
Defense Equal Opportunity Management Institute.
First of all I liked what they offered women.
Um, I felt like I - I was getting more respect.
Um, I don't know how to explain it but the jobs,
I knew that I would be immediately put in the
leadership position and I liked that idea.
The other special time in command was as
Commanding Officer of USS Essex, an amphibious
assault ship. My name is Andy Winns, Vice
Admiral, Naval Inspector General. But I think
because of the sheer size of the ship, and the
number of men and women that were under my
charge, I believe that it was a special time,
because we deployed on 2 occasions.
I reported to my first submarine as a Junior
Officer, Ensign Williams. My name is Melvin G.
Williams Jr. I'm a Vice Admiral in the United
States Navy. It was awesome, it was a relatively
small submarine but very, very capable. And I'll
always remember my first command tour.
I've always had a desire to understand the
world, you know and to travel. My name is
Sinclair M. Harris. I am a Rear Admiral Select
in the United States Navy. I think I just really
just wanted to see the world, and when I joined,
I had no concept of staying in 26 years. I
really - I had no idea.
Being an Admiral in the Navy is as high as you
can go. It's - it's a privilege. My name is Rear
Admiral Will Rodriguez, I'm the Chief Engineer
at the Space and Naval Warfare Systems Command
in San Diego, California. Becoming an Admiral is
a - is a unique opportunity to serve the Navy.
I remember the day, it was St. Patrick's Day
2004 when I got the call. And I was - I was
floored - I was - wow. I never dreamed, I never
dreamed of making Admiral.
One of the things that I've, uh, experienced
in Navy medicine is - uh - the ability to never
have to ask my patients if they could afford the
care that I had to give. My name is Vice Admiral
Adam Robinson, uh I am the Surgeon General of
the Navy, number 36, and also the Chief of the
Bureau of Medicine and Surgery.
Been in the Navy for 31 years, I learn a lot, I
struggle a lot, I've been through and I've seen
a lot. One of the things is that I never allow
nobody to stop me.
There - there is a lot of mentoring and it goes
on, some informal mentoring some formal
mentoring, by Commanding Officers and
Department Heads.
I enjoyed my opportunities to travel the world,
to see sights, and uh see things that most
people only can read about. And uh, so if
someone is inclined to experience those kinds
of things the Navy's for you.
Navy gave me my Master's Degree. Helped me to -
it gave me the time off, 18 months, to do my
Master's Degree. Didn't have to work during that
time, all I did was - I was a student, got my
full pay and benefits.
I think that if - if I hadn't joined the Navy,
as a person, I don't know that I'd be as well
rounded. I've got 2 Master's Degrees from the
Navy, ok, that I never would've gotten if I
hadn't joined. My deepest relationships have
been in - the people I've met in the military.
In the Navy in specific.
Going in the Navy meant driving the ships at
sea - destroyers, frigates, it's ah, it's ah,
it's very intense. And you're 21 22 23 24 years
old.
Any young person who enters who has skills and
desire, the Navy will give you a chance.
The Navy is indeed a diverse place, and we are
working on making it more diverse.
And the diversity includes the men and women of
all colors, religions, and persuasions and
backgrounds who come together and who serve
uh - under a common flag, and who um, make the
commitment to support, defend our country.
So I - I would be very comfortable telling ah -
young folks, particularly minorities, that ah
the Navy is a place of opportunity and you
should give it a shot.