VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. - Master Chief Petty Officer Nick Gomez, a native of Merced, California, serves the U.S. Navy assigned to Navy Expeditionary Combat Command, part of the Navy’s expeditionary force.
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| Photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Marieliza Rosales Navy Public Affairs Support Element East |
Gomez graduated from Merced Golden Valley High School in 2004. Additionally, Gomez earned a bachelor’s degree in clinical health science from George Washington University in 2020.
The skills and values needed to succeed in the Navy are similar to those found in Merced.
“I come from a town in the central valley of California, where there are a lot of hardworking Americans from different backgrounds situated in that area,” Gomez said. “Knowing how to work and put your mind to something is super important, and I’m a firm believer that my hometown instilled that in me.”
Gomez joined the Navy 21 years ago. Today, Gomez serves as a hospital corpsman.
“I joined the Navy because it was something that I’d always wanted to do,” Gomez said. “One of my uncles had served. He was a hospital corpsman, and that was something I’d always wanted to do. I looked up to him. He was a good dude.”
Headquartered in Virginia Beach, Virginia, NECC provides oversight, training and support for the Navy’s expeditionary forces worldwide. From EOD technicians and Seabees to maritime security and logistics sailors, NECC integrates these specialized communities into a ready force capable of deploying quickly and operating wherever they’re needed. A dedicated civilian workforce stands alongside uniformed personnel, ensuring the command has the depth and expertise to keep pace with evolving missions.
NECC’s focus is clear: Arrive on Station, Stay on Station, and Sustain the Fight. By building readiness at home and enabling operations abroad, NECC ensures that expeditionary sailors are equipped, trained, and prepared to deliver when the Navy and the nation call.
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.
Gomez has many opportunities to achieve accomplishments during military service.
“My proudest accomplishment stems from becoming a deep-sea diving independent duty corpsman early on in my career,” Gomez said. “It’s a job where I was a deep-sea diver and primary care for operational enlisted and officers – taking care of everything from the sniffles to major trauma. Having that experience allowed me to work in different environments and communities in the military. Having that deep-sea diving experience means I can work in Navy special warfare, with the Marine Corps, and in expeditionary and ship husbandry, and it has provided an immense number of opportunities to learn and be successful across different platforms. In that, I’m most proud of the work and the combined efforts of my sailors and commands where I’ve served.”
Gomez 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 has provided me a phenomenal opportunity to work with Americans from all over and travel abroad to nearly every continent to serve our country and support our nation’s allies and work alongside professionals I wouldn’t have otherwise had the opportunity,” Gomez said. “Serving makes me incredibly proud to represent where I am from and my family.”
Gomez is grateful to others for helping make a Navy career possible.
“First, I want to thank my mother,” Gomez said. “She is an incredible example of hard work, strength, and character. She raised me and my siblings, and I am very proud of all of them. Most important to me is my family, Taylor, and our twins, Luella and Devlin, without them I wouldn’t be who I am today.”