SAN DIEGO - Senior Chief Petty Officer Felicia Douglas, a native of Gallup, New Mexico, serves the U.S. Navy assigned to Commander, Naval Air Force Pacific (CNAP), supporting naval aviation around the world.
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| Photo by Mass Communication Specialist Seaman Caleb Kissner, Fleet Public Affairs Center San Diego |
Douglas graduated from Gallup High School in 1999 and later earned a master’s degree in cybersecurity.
The skills and values needed to succeed in the Navy are similar to those found in Gallup.
“Growing up in Gallup, you learn resilience,” Douglas said. “Our people, the Diné, have a history of persevering and adapting to incredible challenges. My heritage and hometown allow me to face adversity, adapt to new situations, and drive forward.”
Douglas joined the Navy 26 years ago. Today, Douglas serves as an information systems technician.
“My family has a long and proud history of military service,” Douglas said. “My father’s side of the family joined the Army; my mother’s side of the family joined the Marines. My brothers and sisters all joined the Marines, but me, I joined the Navy. I didn’t want to be the same; I wanted to be different. I knew I was going to go into the military.”
Based at Naval Air Station North Island, California, CNAP falls under Commander, Naval Air Forces (CNAF), which oversees the Navy’s aircraft wings, squadrons, aircraft carriers, support facilities and training commands. CNAF is responsible for manning, training and equipping deployable, combat-ready naval aviation forces to compete and win in any environment.
“Our people are the very essence of naval aviation,” said Vice Adm. Douglas Verissimo, the commander of Naval Air Forces, also known as the ‘Air Boss.’ “Each individual’s commitment to excellence, from the flight deck to the maintenance bay, is what allows us to project power and ensure our nation’s security. It’s the dedication of every sailor and officer from every state and territory that fuels our warfighting readiness and guarantees our success in any environment.”
Naval aviation provides the Navy and our nation with a flexible, adaptable and lethal force to preserve peace, respond in crises and win decisively in combat. The U.S. Navy maintains and operates more than 2,000 aircraft to fulfill various mission sets in order to preserve the American way of life and ensure freedom, security and prosperity.
Douglas has many opportunities to achieve accomplishments during military service.
“Each promotion has been my own distinct path in the Navy,” Douglas said. “They have been a reflection of my past and also a promise for my future. It has allowed me to be a leader who guides, mentors and leads others, ensuring my family and shipmates are ready for any challenge. Each pay grade has its own challenges, but being able to face each challenge at each level, being able to adapt and overcome and not just being stagnant, has allowed me to navigate my own path.”
This year, the Navy is commemorating its contribution to the nation’s defense as the United States celebrates 250 years of independence. According to Navy officials, for more than 250 years, the Navy has sailed the globe defending freedom and protecting prosperity.
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.
“Serving means carrying forward the torch my family has carried for generations, but also it was my choice to answer the call to serve my country on my own terms,” Douglas said. “I’m not just a sailor, I am a representative of my people, carrying their resilience, wisdom and community spirit with me.”
Faith is a source of strength for Douglas, who is thankful for the comfort religion provides.
“First, I would like to thank God, thank you to my Lord and Savior,” Douglas said. “My faith is my foundation. Being a Christian and knowing what my values are means not having to compromise my values. As you study God’s word, you really learn to lean on him in moments where you feel alone, but you will never be alone because he is never going to forsake us. As long as we honor him, everything is going to work out.”
Douglas is grateful to others for helping make a Navy career possible
“Second, I would like to thank my family and friends,” Douglas said. “Thank you for being the unwavering foundation of my Navy career, cheering for me from afar and supporting me while I serve. The love and support you have given me every step of the way have made all this possible. I would also like to thank my dad, Brown Bagay Jr., who always taught us to keep moving forward no matter what.”