Cmdr. Holly Harrison

ehash Job description: National Security Affairs fellow with the Hoover Institution, Stanford University.

ehash Personal: First female Coast Guardsman to earn a Bronze Star, volunteer firefighter, sexual assault prevention and response advocate.

ehash Harrison was the first woman in the Coast Guard to command a cutter in a war zone, deploying in support of Operation Iraq Freedom as a lieutenant and skipper of the Island-class patrol boat Aquidneck in 2003. That deployment also made her the service’s first female Bronze Star recipient.

ehash She was also the only woman in the contingent of four cutters on that deployment — they all carried an all-male crew, including the crew she commanded.

ehash “To be honest, the ship was picked to go over because the hull was in very good condition,” she told Navy Times. “The Coast Guard didn’t care if the commanding officer was a female or a male.”

ehash As a 15-year-old, she recalled, she pulled a body out of the water, busted a couple of drug smugglers, and saved a couple and their dog who had been stranded at sea. She was hooked, she said. She graduated from the Coast Guard Academy in 1995.

ehash She joined Virginia’s Fairfax County volunteer fire department during her last assignment, in Washington, D.C. She said she’d always been one of those kids who loved to watch the fire trucks go by, and she figured her experience at her day job made her a great fit.

ehash Harrison’s now serving as a Coast Guard fellow with Stanford University’s Hoover Institution. The first part of that fellowship is about as far from campus as one can get — she’s wrapping up a monthlong Arctic cruise aboard the icebreaker Healy.

ehash “I think this is going to be a major issue, not only for the Coast Guard but the nation,” she said. “So it would be really nice to fully understand it, and as it’s growing and developing, hopefully have an opportunity to influence the direction we go in, so then we get it right the first time.”

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MST2 Christopher Villaverde

ehash Job description: Inspections division, Coast Guard Sector New York.

ehash Personal: 25-year-old reservist, New York City police officer, American Eagle Force Cadet Core volunteer.

ehash Villaverde grew up in a Coast Guard family, knowing from a young age that he wanted to serve.

ehash In fact, he deployed with his father, Reserve Cmdr. Sergio Villaverde, down to the Gulf of Mexico in 2010 to aid in cleanup following the Deepwater Horizon spill.

ehash Villaverde joined the Coast Guard Reserve in 2008. He chose to earn a degree from the City University of New York while serving at Sector New York, then join the New York Police Department after graduation.

ehash Today he’s attached to the inspection division at Sector New York while patrolling the Bronx as a beat cop during the work week. In his spare time, Villaverde focuses on leading the next generation down the right road.

ehash “I grew up in the Bronx, so I knew that any which way you can go can lead to a wrong path,” he told Navy Times. “I’m also a cop in that community. I’ve seen all types of stuff — one wrong move at a young age can lead you to a totally different path that you don’t want to go down.”

ehash Villaverde has been involved in several community organizations, including his local American Eagle Force Cadet Core, a junior ROTC program. Fellow volunteer Evelyn Navarro said his military background commands instant respect from the kids.

ehash “He taught them about the water, and how to talk on the radios, and what he was learning in the Coast Guard,” she said. “They were amazed.”

ehash Villaverde is studying to take his E-6 exam, and he’s planning to take the police department’s sergeant’s exam as soon as possible.

ehash “I want to rank up as high as I can,” he said. “That way I can make some changes that would benefit the community and the cops themselves.”

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Capt. Benjamin Wilson

ehash Assignment: Fighter duty officer with 111th Air Support Operations Squadron, an Air National Guard forward-deployed squadron at Camp Murray, Washington, that supports and directs close air support for ground commanders and forces.

ehash Personal: Wilson followed in his father’s footsteps, retired Lt. Col. Lynn Wilson, to join the Air Force. He started his military career in the Montana State University ROTC program. Originally from Takoma, Washington, Wilson now lives with his family in Gig Harbor.

ehash Capt. Benjamin Wilson was the man behind the scenes during his deployment to Afghanistan, responding to calls for close-air support from tactical airmen on the battlefield.

ehash During his deployment with the 111th Air Support Operations Squadron between February and September 2013, he handled 2,687 requests for close-air support resulting in over 500,000 pounds of ordnance expended, said Maj. David Stilli, detachment commander with the 111th.

ehash It was Wilson’s sixth deployment, but his first to Afghanistan as a fighter duty officer with the Washington Air National Guard.

ehash “I will say his leadership not only overseas, but while CONUS is second to none,” Stilli said. “He is well respected up and down the chain of command.”

ehash As an acting air director, Wilson supported 85,000 coalition troops and found a way to shorten response times for close-air support, said Stilli, who nominated Wilson for 2014 Airman of the Year.

ehash “Captain Wilson established new processes eliminating mission waste freeing up 10 aircraft sorties a day for CAS taskings and decreasing response times by 35 percent,” Stilli said.

ehash Wilson was commissioned in 2005 out of ROTC as an electronic warfare officer on EC-130Hs flying out of Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, Arizona, with the 55th Electronic Combat Group. Over the next six years, he deployed five times for Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom and for missions in Qatar, Columbia and Libya.

ehash He transferred to the Guard in 2011 and said it’s one of the best moves he has made.

ehash “The troops I work with in the Guard are some the best guys you’d ever meet from a professional and tactical standpoint. Bar none, the best. And to me, that’s not something I was expecting,” Wilson said.

ehash Wilson, whose off-duty job is with electric utility Peninsula Light, hopes to stay with his Guard squadron for the rest of his career.

ehash Meanwhile, he is an active volunteer: Peninsula Light shipped school supply donations to Afghanistan on his behalf during his deployment. He volunteers as a community firefighter and as a YMCA swim coach. He set up and walked in two “Relay for Life” cancer events.

ehash And he volunteered more than 50 hours of his time to raise $3,500 for the Key Peninsula Red Barn Youth Center Energy Conservation Project.

ehash “It gets dark around 4 p.m. here, and the kids that get off the school buses get off on a small highway — we worked on [providing] lighting for them to get home safely,” he said of the project.

ehash Wilson also works on various projects to educate community members on how best to conserve power.

ehash — Oriana Pawlyk

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Tech. Sgt. Rafael Rhodes

ehash Assignment: Combat training instructor at Creech Air Force Base, Nevada. Rhodes works and trains with units to prepare for deployment, which includes his primary duty to train deploying military working dogs and MWD teams. He was previously at Dyess Air Force Base, Texas, between 2008 and March 2014.

ehash Personal: A Miami native, Rhodes enlisted in 2004 and enjoys “the typical guy stuff — weightlifting, movies, hanging out with friends.” Rhodes is the father of a 3-year-old boy.

ehash Rhodes, a security forces airman and dog handler, was on his third deployment in four years when the convoy he was leading began taking small arms fire Aug. 9, 2013. In the chaos, a man waiting to detonate an IED ran from the scene, an indication of potential explosives in the area.

ehash Rhodes and his dog Nero were hit, but the two swept the high-risk area for more IEDs before returning to his mine-resistant, ambush-protected vehicle to administer first aid to the unconscious vehicle gunner who also was wounded.

ehash For his actions that day, he was awarded the Purple Heart and Air Force Combat Action Medal.

ehash Rhodes sustained a concussion and ankle injury, and Nero’s ear drums were perforated. The Air Force Combat Action Medal cites Rhodes’ bravery in directly engaging the enemy while his life was at risk of grave danger. 

ehash “I’m glad I was able to impact the mission and help others’ lives as far as coming home,” Rhodes told Air Force Times. “And while I’m a general combat instructor, the most fulfilling part is teaching these individuals to come home in one piece.”

ehash Rhodes deployed to Bagram Airfield, Afghanistan, between July and December 2013. He led more than 150 outside-the-wire security patrols 8 miles outside base, and, often with Nero, searched more than 30,000 vehicles and 250 tons of cargo. 

ehash Maj. Sarah Babbitt, Rhodes’ former 7th Security Forces Squadron commander, wrote in nominating Rhodes for 2014 Airman of the Year that he is “highly deserving of recognition” — for actions on the battlefield and back home at Dyess Air Force Base, Texas. Rhodes was a first responder in the widely publicized case of 22-month-old Tamryn Klapheke, who died of starvation in her on-base home while her father was deployed. Rhodes ensured the safety of the other two Klapheke children, Babbitt wrote.

ehash “At the time this happened, my boy was 2, and I grew to appreciate my family life so much more because of everything that I saw and everything that happened,” Rhodes said

ehash Rhodes left Dyess for his new job as a combat instructor at Creech Air Force Base, Nevada, in March, where he is passing on to trainees his lessons from the battlefield and his six years as a dog handler.

ehash “Whenever we’re able to train, whether it be a dog team or just security forces members ... teaching the old dogs some different tricks or teaching the new kids something they’ve never learned and see them advancing and doing well is very fulfilling,” Rhodes said.

ehash He said he’s ready to deploy “wherever the Air Force needs me to be, and I’m looking forward to the next time I get the chance.”

ehash Rhodes would like to volunteer in his free time, possibly as a little league football coach in Las Vegas. He said he one day hopes to coach high school football and be a role model for kids.

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CTRC Jamar Salters

ehash Job description: Defense Intelligence Agency, Washington, D.C.

ehash Personal: 29-year-old education advocate for sailors and committed ambassador for Navy College programs.

ehash Salters uses education as an icebreaker.

ehash “If I see someone just sitting around with nothing to do, maybe someone I’ve never met, I’ll go up to them and start talking to them about their goals and about education,” he said. “That’s how I introduce myself.”

ehash Salters dedicates nearly every moment of his spare time to motivating sailors and informing them about programs such as the Sailor-Marine American Council on Education Registry Transcript, which assigns college credits to military training, and the College Level Examination Program, which allows sailors to study for a single test that will earn them credits.

ehash Salters’ message is simple: The Navy makes it easy to earn a degree.

ehash “Through the programs that exist right now, a sailor can earn a bachelor’s degree in six months to a year,” he said.

ehash And Salters doesn’t just talk the talk: He has bachelor’s degrees in computer studies and history, as well as a bachelor’s degree in strategic intelligence from the National Intelligence University.

ehash Salters has compiled an hourlong brief that outlines how simple it can be for sailors to earn a degree — and has driven hours on his own time to deliver it.

ehash “He sincerely cares, and if people are willing to put in the work, he’ll go above and beyond to make sure they are successful earning a degree,” said Cryptologic Technician (Networks) 2nd Class Valencia Armando, who served with Salters at Navy Information Operations Command Maryland. “He is everything I want to be at some point.”

ehash Beyond his commitment to education, Salters is an outstanding sailor. He’s served on submarines, ships, with ground forces and with air operations. During that time he’s earned six warfare qualifications.

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LN1 Gorgonia Cueto

ehash Job description: Command paralegal at Camp Lemonnier, Djibouti.

ehash Personal: 45-year-old reservist, mother of two, volunteer organizer on base for Caritas Street Children Program, sings in the Catholic choir.

ehash Not long after arriving at a Horn of Africa base in 2013, Cueto took on an important mission off base: mentoring at-risk children at a shelter every week.

ehash The kids, 16 and under, come to the Caritas Djibouti refuge for daytime shelter and food every day. Once a week, Cueto began leading volunteers from the base over to play with the kids and teach them English.

ehash The children live on the street. Many are orphans or refugees who do not get enough to eat. They have little education. Many lack clean clothes — even shoes.

ehash “They’re so appreciative of anything. You give them two pieces of candy, and it’s like the best thing in the world,” Cueto told Navy Times in a phone call from Camp Lemonnier, where she is on two-year unaccompanied orders. “You really touch their hearts.”

ehash Cueto is a mobilized reservist who has a 12-year-old daughter and 24-year-old son back home. Her passion for her adopted kids at the shelter has galvanized the base.

ehash When she started with the program in August 2013, she would typically arrive at the center for the Saturday visits with four volunteers. Now she has 25 each week — a cap she sets so as not to overwhelm the shelter. More than 100 volunteers regularly give their time.

ehash The growth in the number and enthusiasm of volunteers is “a result of her personal initiative and outreach,” wrote Lt. Courtney Gordon-Tennant, Cueto’s former department head, who nominated her for the Navy Times Sailor of the Year award. “She is a true ambassador.”

ehash Volunteers watch movies with the children or read to them. They teach kids to read, count and paint. Many of the teenagers have what in the U.S. would be a grade-school level education, Cueto said.

ehash “I will never forget the times I spent at Caritas, and the children will forever stay with me,” Cueto said in an email. “Knowing that I’ve made a small difference in their lives is a reward enough for me.”

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Gunnery Sgt. Mike Rodriguez

ehash Gunnery Sergeant Mike O. Rodriguez

ehash Gunnery Sergeant Rodriguez was born in Perth Amboy, NJ on August 20, 1985.  He attended Perth Amboy High School and graduated in June 2003.  He enlisted in the United States Marine Corps on August 4, 2003 and was assigned to Company “I” 3D RTBN, MCRD, Parris Island, SC where upon graduation, was meritoriously promoted to Lance Corporal as the Company Honor Graduate.

ehash After completion of Marine Combat Training at Camp Geiger, NC in February 2004, and being selected as the honor graduate, he reported to Camp Johnson where he received the MOS 0151 (Administration Clerk).  There he graduated company guide and honor graduate.

ehash In March 2004, He reported for duty with MCB Quantico, HQSPT BN, TACO Co, MMSB-20.  In 2005, he was promoted to Corporal and assigned to OCS as a Police Sergeant for Company “I”.  There he served two cycles and personally assisted in the process of screening and selection for Officers in the United States Marine Corps.  After completing his augment he returned back to MMSB-20.  There he held the billets of NCOIC, SNCOIC, and Platoon Sergeant for the MMSB department.  In 2006, he was meritoriously promoted to Sergeant and was selected to attend Drill Instructor School.

ehash In March 2007, he reported to Drill Instructor School at MCRD Parris Island, SC.  There he graduated as a Distinguished Graduate and was assigned to Company “M”, 3D RTBN, MCRD, Parris Island, SC.  There he served three cycles as a Drill Instructor, three cycles as an Experience Drill Instructor, and two as a Senior Drill Instructor where he set the regimental drill record in both platoon and unit leader.  On June 2, 2009, he was meritoriously promoted to the rank of Staff Sergeant.  In October 2009, he reported to Support Battalion and assigned as a Martial Arts Instructor.  Shortly after, he was reassigned to Instructional Training Company where he held the billets of Company Gunnery Sergeant and Company First Sergeant.

ehash In July 2010, he reported to MCIWEST-MCB Camp Pendleton, where he was assigned as an Administrative Specialist for the Military Personnel Office, G-1.  There he received the collateral responsibility of managing the G-1 Crisis Action Team for the Regional MCIWEST-MCB Command Operations Center. March 2011, he deployed to Afghanistan with MARCENT (FWD) as the RC-South Administrative Chief.  On February 2014, he was promoted to the rank of Gunnery Sergeant and was immediately assigned to the position of Company First Sergeant with HQSVC Co, HQSPT BN, MCIWEST-MCB.   

ehash His personal awards include the Meritorious Service Medal, Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal, Navy and Marine Corps achievement Medal with one gold star, and Good Conduct Medal with two bronze stars.

ehash Gunnery Sergeant Rodriguez is married and has no children.

ehash Additional skills and qualifications:  Black belt Martial Arts Instructor (2007), Combat Marksmanship Coach (2009), Command Financial Specialist (2012), Curriculum Developer (2010), Basic Instructor (2010), SharePoint – Basic Site Owner/Document Library (2013), CPI Yellow/Green Belt Course, Range Safety Officer (2011), Regional Command Operations Center/Crisis Action Team member for the MCIWEST-MCB G-1 (2010), and Casualty Assistance Calls Officer (2010).

ehash Formal Schools and EPME:  Advanced Administrative course, Leading Marines DEP, Senior Enlisted Joint PME (NONRES), Sergeants course, Sergeants (NONRES), SNCO Career course, SNCO (NONRES), and SNCO Advanced (NONRES).

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1st Lt. Felicia Gililland

ehash Cancer survivor, coach and leader

ehash In early 2011, then-Staff Sgt. Felicia Gililland was fighting breast cancer and underwent a double mastectomy. Less than six months later, she was acing her PT test and earning her commission. 

ehash Fast forward to today and 1st Lt. Gililland is thriving in her career and still taking time to serve her community.

ehash “Many people think that a major surgery is the end of their career,” Gililland said. “I want people to see that even after something as radical as a double astectomy, that I never let it stop me from being a soldier and continuing my mission.”

ehash On the job, she is executive officer for the 135th Forward Surgical Team in U.S. Army Garrison Yongsan, South Korea. She is also a first responder for FEMA and Team Rubicon, a non-government organization that specializes in emergency response. 

ehash Gililland, who is wrapping up her Korea tour soon, also coaches a cheerleading team called Go Rogue, which is comprised of teenagers and named after the powerful X-men heroine.

ehash “A lot of these kids, I’ve seen grown up,” she said. 

ehash This year, Go Rogue raised more than $6,000 for the Yongsan Relay for Life to benefit cancer research.

ehash The lieutenant also operates a cupcake and diaper cake company called Incredible Designs. She donated cupcakes to Seoul American High School’s prom this year and she also donated some sweets for an event at the nearby Philippines embassy. 

ehash Gililland said all the hard work is worth it, and it also helps reduce her anxiety. She said she suffers from post-traumatic stress after working at a combat support hospital in a 2003 deployment to Iraq. 

ehash “Being selected runner up for the Army Times Soldier of the Year means a lot to me,” she said. “I have worked hard supporting my unit and my local community because it is the right thing to do. I just never expected people to notice.”

ehash Assignment: Executive officer for the 135th Forward Surgical Team at U.S. Army Garrison Yongsan, South Korea. She is days away from reporting to her next role, joining U.S. Transportation Command at Scott Air Force Base, Illinois. 

ehash Personal: 34 years old and married to retired Master Sgt. Jim Thurman with three children: Brittany (24), James (23) and Dylan (11). Hails from Charleston, West Virginia. 

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Gunnery Sgt. Joseph James

ehash Gunnery Sergeant James was born on 16 October 1976 in Greer, SC.  In May of 1995, he attended recruit training at Marine Corps Recruit Depot, Parris Island, South Carolina and graduated as a PFC in August 1995.  Upon completion of recruit training, Gunnery Sergeant James proceeded to Camp Geiger for Marine Combat Training, graduating in September 1995.

ehash In September 1995, Gunnery Sergeant James proceeded to NAS Memphis, Millington, Tennessee for formal training.  Upon completion of the basic hydraulics course, he reported to NAS Miramar, CA for training on the Hydraulics Component Test Stand (HCT-10).  Gunnery Sergeant James was promoted to Lance Corporal in February 1996.  Gunnery Sergeant James then proceeded to NAS Lemoore, CA for training on the F/A-18 Hornet Servocylinder Test Station.

ehash In April of 1996, Gunnery Sergeant James reported to Marine Aviation Logistics Squadron 12, MCAS Iwakuni, Japan.  He was promoted to the rank of Corporal in October 1996.  In April of 1997, Gunnery Sergeant James was transferred to Marine Helicopter Squadron 1, where he was promoted to Sergeant in January 1999.  He served in the capacities of Collateral Duty Quality Assurance Representative and Non-Commission Officer-In-Charge of the Hydraulics Shop for the Executive Transport Detachment.

ehash In September 2001, Gunnery Sergeant James was transferred to MALS-31, MCAS Beaufort, SC.  He deployed with Marine Fight Attack Squadron 122 to Iwakuni, Japan from July 2002 to July 2003 where he served as the Staff Non-Commissioned Officer-In-Charge (SNCOIC) of the Hydraulics/Servocylinder Test Station shops.  He was promoted to Staff Sergeant in October 2002.  After his return from Japan, Gunnery Sergeant James was transferred to be the SNCOIC of the Corrosion Control Facility at MAG-31, Beaufort, SC. 

ehash In July 2004, Gunnery Sergeant James reported to Drill Instructor School, MCRD Parris Island for training.  He completed his training and reported to Delta Company, 1st Recruit Training Battalion for duty.  Gunnery Sergeant James completed four recruit training cycles and reported to the Support Battalion for duty as SNCOIC of the Academic Instruction Unit and Company Gunnery Sergeant of Instructional Training Company.  Upon completion of his assigned duty, he reported back to Delta Company for duty as a Senior Drill Instructor and Series Gunnery Sergeant.  Gunnery Sergeant James was promoted to his present rank in October 2007.

ehash In October 2007, Gunnery Sergeant James reported back to MALS-31 for duty as the Hydraulics shop SNCOIC.  While at MALS-31, he served in the billets of Hydraulics Shop SNCOIC, Quality Assurance SNCOIC and Assistant Aircraft Maintenance Chief.  Gunnery Sergeant James completed a combat deployment to Al Asad, Iraq in 2008-2009 where he was attached to MALS-16 (FWD) served as the Hydraulics Shop SNCOIC.  In 2011, Gunnery Sergeant James completed another combat deployment in Kandahar, Afghanistan as the Quality Assurance Chief for MALS-40 (FWD).

ehash In 2011, Gunnery Sergeant James reported to MALS-24, Kaneohe Bay, HI for duties as the AIRSpeed Chief.  In August 2013, Gunnery Sergeant James transferred to the Maintenance Department of MALS-24 where he currently serves as the Quality Assurance SNCOIC.

ehash Gunnery Sergeant James’s personal awards include:  the Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal with two Gold Stars, the Navy Achievement Medal, the Outstanding Volunteer Service Medal, and the Presidential Service Badge. He is married to the former Jenny Magsamen, of Greer, SC.  They have two children, Alex-13 and Caroline-9.

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Staff Sgt. Terriance Hamilton

ehash Soldier serves community with soup kitchen

ehash Staff Sgt. Terriance Hamilton and his wife Joyce, a retired sergeant first class, wanted to help those in need living near Fort Knox, Kentucky, so this past year they opened the Lord’s Supper Soup Kitchen, a non-profit that provides more than just hot meals.

ehash Before they opened, Hamilton said he and his wife did some recon.

ehash “We went off the highways and down into the trailer courts ... apartments, low-income housing,” Hamilton said. “And we literally saw people eating off cardboard boxes.”

ehash They felt it was their calling to help these residents, and in the past year the kitchen has raised an estimated $40,000 worth of food, clothing and furniture for the less fortunate. There’s also a ministry aspect to their work, but Hamilton stresses that any and all are welcome to break bread.

ehash Hamilton has managed to co-lead the soup kitchen while juggling his active-duty responsibilities.

ehash “I get off work, I take off my uniform, put on a pair of tennis shoes and jeans, and I get real humble,” Hamilton said.

ehash He’s had to defer some of his service work in recent months, however, as he’s presently deployed to Bagram Air Base, Afghanistan with 3rd Sustainment Command (Expeditionary).

ehash Downrange, Hamilton is serving as the contract air cell noncommissioned officer in charge and he’s responsible for assurance inspections of government contractors. Recognized as a talent behind the mic, Hamilton is often tapped for a special duty — serving as emcee for events, such as color-casing ceremonies, at home and abroad.

ehash Hamilton said he and his wife have big plans to create a homeless shelter down the line and also build more soup kitchens, branching out to other states.

ehash “The Army prepared me with patience and fortitude and dignity, respect, integrity, loyalty. The Army gave me all these attributes,” Hamilton said. “I had them, but they made me go deep with them.”

ehash Assignment: Contract Air Cell NCOIC, deployed with 3rd Sustainment Command (Expeditionary)

ehash Personal: A married 44-year-old with more than 18 years of service. Hails from Ozark, Alabama. 

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