Petty Officer 3rd Class Mara Chavez, a native of Phoenix, serves the U.S. Navy aboard USS Tripoli operating out of San Diego.

Chavez graduated from Western High School in 2021.

The skills and values needed to succeed in the Navy are similar to those found in Phoenix.

“Working at McDonald’s taught me how to work in adverse conditions,” Chavez said.

Chavez joined the Navy two and a half years ago. Today, Chavez serves as an aviation adminstrationman.

“I joined the Navy because it forces you to grow up and be out in the real world,” Chavez said. “I needed that because I didn't know what I wanted to do after high school.”

Tripoli is an amphibious assault carrier that provides presence and power projection as an integral part of Joint, Interagency and Multinational Maritime Expeditionary Forces. It supports Marine Air/Ground Task Force requirements, from small-scale contingency operations to Expeditionary Strike Group operations to forcible entry missions in major theaters of war.

“The sailors who make up Team Tripoli really are the best the Navy has to offer,” Capt. Gary Harrington, commanding officer of Tripoli, said. “We say it all the time, our Navy is nothing without the men and women who serve on the deckplates each and every day. I truly believe that the continued success of our Navy, and Tripoli specifically, is due in no small part to the contributions of our sailors.”

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.

“We will earn and reinforce the trust and confidence of the American people every day,” Adm. Lisa Franchetti, Chief of Naval Operations, said.

Chavez has many opportunities to achieve accomplishments during military service.

“My proudest accomplishment is becoming a third class petty officer because it shows that I am doing well,” Chavez said. “I want to be a chief eventually so this is just one step closer to that. I am also proud of being a candidate for Blue Jacket of the Quarter aboard USS New Orleans because it shows that my command saw that I was doing a good job and putting effort into my job.”

Chavez is grateful to others for helping make a Navy career possible.

“I want to thank Logistics Specialist 2nd Class Desima for being amazing,” Chavez said. “I also want to thank Aviation Machinist's Mate Airman Arechija for being with me and showing me what I do wrong when I can't see it.”