An R.L. Pascal High graduate ’18 is proudly serving her country while gaining the skills she needs in the field of her choice. Petty Officer 2nd Class Fatima Mandujano, a Fort Worth native, proudly serves aboard a U.S. Navy warship, in Norfolk, Virginia.
A four-year Navy veteran, Mandujano serves as an engineman on the USS Mesa Verde. “I joined the Navy because I wasn't sure what I wanted to study in college, but I knew I wanted to be some kind of engineer,” she says. "The Navy provided me with that opportunity."
With 90 percent of global commerce traveling by sea and access to the internet relying on the security of undersea fiber optic cables, Navy officials continue to emphasize that the prosperity of the United States is directly linked to trained sailors and a strong Navy. These very initiatives allow Navy team members to achieve their service goals while preparing them for a life outside of the armed forces.
"If I wasn't in the Navy, I'd be relying on family members and in my comfort zone. Serving has helped me get out of that comfort zone," Mandujano says. “Serving in the Navy means I can gain experience as a leader, mentor, and set a positive example for others.”
