LEMOORE, Calif. - Every sailor’s story of naval service is unique. For Petty Officer 1st Class Leslie Powell, this story has ties to Indio, California, where skills and values learned there are foundational to success in the Navy.
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| Photo by Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Mitch Meppelink |
“Growing up, I learned to be resilient, to not let stuff get to me and to go with the flow,” Powell said. “It’s helped me progress in my career. I’m in a good spot right now. I made rank fast; I made petty officer first class at seven years and now, at 10 years, I have the opportunity to be promoted to chief.”
Powell graduated from La Quinta High School in 2015.
Powell joined the Navy 10 years ago.
“I joined the Navy because I didn’t want to go to college, and I wanted more opportunities outside of the desert,” Powell said. “I went to the Navy office and hit it off with the recruiter.”
Today, Powell serves as an aviation ordnanceman assigned to Navy Munitions Command Pacific CONUS West Division Detachment, Lemoore onboard Naval Air Station (NAS) Lemoore.
NAS Lemoore is home to Commander Strike Fighter Wing Pacific and Commander Joint Strike Fighter Wing. More than half of the Navy’s F/A-18E/F Super Hornet aircraft reside here, and it is the only Navy installation to house the F-35C Lightning II.
Carrier strike groups and the embarked aviation squadrons are the cornerstone of U.S. naval power projection and sea power. They can quickly maneuver thousands of miles with the world’s most capable warships and top-notch sailors, remaining on station in areas of interest without relying on land bases or overflight agreements. U.S. Navy aircraft carriers are the most adaptable, lethal and survivable airfields in the world and their presence serves as the most credible commitment to our allies and partners.
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.
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.
Powell has many opportunities to achieve accomplishments during military service.
“I was Sailor of the Year 2025 for the command,” Powell said. “I didn’t think I deserved it, and I felt like there were other people who deserved it more, but I stood out.”
Powell serves a Navy that operates far forward, around the world and around the clock, promoting the nation’s prosperity and security.
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. More information is available here: https://www.navy.mil/navy-250/
“For me, serving in the Navy means being with a family that I didn’t know I had,” Powell said.
Powell is grateful to others for helping make a Navy career possible.
“I want to thank my parents, Stephen and Carolina, because I wouldn’t have excelled and I wouldn’t be where I am without them,” Powell said. “I also want to thank my fiancé, Brandon, for his continuous support in my career.”