BOSTON - Petty Officer 1st Class Nisse Adolfo Fonseca Flores, a 2006 graduate of Vermont State University Castleton, is one of more than 60 sailors celebrating America’s 249 years of independence while serving aboard USS Constitution, the Navy’s oldest commissioned warship.
Fonseca Flores, from Saltillo, Coahuila, Mexico, earned a bachelor’s degree in secondary education, Spanish from Vermont State Castleton in 2006.
The skills and values needed to succeed in the Navy are similar to those found in Castleton.
“I learned that hard work and dedication will take me a long way, and I shouldn’t wait on anybody to do something for myself,” Fonseca Flores said.
Fonseca Flores joined the Navy 17 years ago. Today, Fonseca Flores serves as a culinary specialist.
“I moved to the U.S. in January 2001, and I decided to give back to the country that opened its doors and arms to me,” Fonseca Flores said.
Launched from a Boston shipyard in October 1797, Constitution is the only surviving vessel of the Navy’s original six frigates and is the world’s oldest commissioned warship afloat. The ship earned the nickname “Old Ironsides” during the War of 1812 after British cannonballs were seen bouncing off the ship’s wooden hull. Constitution was undefeated in battle and captured or destroyed 33 enemy vessels in its nearly 60 years of active service.
Now, 227 years after its launch, Constitution’s primary mission is education and outreach, welcoming more than 500,000 visitors aboard each year. Its crew of more than 60 sailors is hand-picked to preserve and protect Constitution, while promoting naval history, maritime heritage and raising awareness of the importance of a sustained naval presence. The ship’s original missions of defending American interests and protecting sea lanes to ensure commerce remain at the forefront of the Navy’s mission today.
The U.S. Navy is celebrating its 250th birthday this year.
According to Navy officials, “America is a maritime nation and for 250 years, America’s Warfighting Navy has sailed the globe in defense of freedom.”
With 90% 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 recruiting and retaining talented people from across the rich fabric of America.
Fonseca Flores has many opportunities to achieve accomplishments during military service.
“My proudest accomplishment is advancing to petty officer first class, being a cook for the Secretary of the Navy and being the wardroom leading culinary specialist on my last command aboard USS Paul Hamilton,” Fonseca Flores said. “When I made first class, I prepared and studied really hard for that promotion.”
Fonseca Flores serves a Navy that operates far forward, around the world and around the clock, promoting the nation’s prosperity and security.
“Serving in the Navy means working to keep my family and my loved ones safe in doing the best things I can do for them,” Fonseca Flores said.
Fonseca Flores is grateful to others for helping make a Navy career possible.
“I would like to thank my wife, Sarah, my children, Laura, Cuper and Karen, my in-laws, Corey and Bill, and most importantly, my parents, Cuper and Ana Laura, who all trusted me enough and supported me to follow this path in life,” Fonseca Flores added. “I also would like to thank my sister, Mariana, and my brother, Hervey, for their unconditional support.”
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| Photo by Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class James Green, Navy Office of Community Outreach |
Fonseca Flores, from Saltillo, Coahuila, Mexico, earned a bachelor’s degree in secondary education, Spanish from Vermont State Castleton in 2006.
The skills and values needed to succeed in the Navy are similar to those found in Castleton.
“I learned that hard work and dedication will take me a long way, and I shouldn’t wait on anybody to do something for myself,” Fonseca Flores said.
Fonseca Flores joined the Navy 17 years ago. Today, Fonseca Flores serves as a culinary specialist.
“I moved to the U.S. in January 2001, and I decided to give back to the country that opened its doors and arms to me,” Fonseca Flores said.
Launched from a Boston shipyard in October 1797, Constitution is the only surviving vessel of the Navy’s original six frigates and is the world’s oldest commissioned warship afloat. The ship earned the nickname “Old Ironsides” during the War of 1812 after British cannonballs were seen bouncing off the ship’s wooden hull. Constitution was undefeated in battle and captured or destroyed 33 enemy vessels in its nearly 60 years of active service.
Now, 227 years after its launch, Constitution’s primary mission is education and outreach, welcoming more than 500,000 visitors aboard each year. Its crew of more than 60 sailors is hand-picked to preserve and protect Constitution, while promoting naval history, maritime heritage and raising awareness of the importance of a sustained naval presence. The ship’s original missions of defending American interests and protecting sea lanes to ensure commerce remain at the forefront of the Navy’s mission today.
The U.S. Navy is celebrating its 250th birthday this year.
According to Navy officials, “America is a maritime nation and for 250 years, America’s Warfighting Navy has sailed the globe in defense of freedom.”
With 90% 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 recruiting and retaining talented people from across the rich fabric of America.
Fonseca Flores has many opportunities to achieve accomplishments during military service.
“My proudest accomplishment is advancing to petty officer first class, being a cook for the Secretary of the Navy and being the wardroom leading culinary specialist on my last command aboard USS Paul Hamilton,” Fonseca Flores said. “When I made first class, I prepared and studied really hard for that promotion.”
Fonseca Flores serves a Navy that operates far forward, around the world and around the clock, promoting the nation’s prosperity and security.
“Serving in the Navy means working to keep my family and my loved ones safe in doing the best things I can do for them,” Fonseca Flores said.
Fonseca Flores is grateful to others for helping make a Navy career possible.
“I would like to thank my wife, Sarah, my children, Laura, Cuper and Karen, my in-laws, Corey and Bill, and most importantly, my parents, Cuper and Ana Laura, who all trusted me enough and supported me to follow this path in life,” Fonseca Flores added. “I also would like to thank my sister, Mariana, and my brother, Hervey, for their unconditional support.”