Asian Journal- The Filipino-American Community Newspaper

THE US Naval Facilities Engineering Command (NAVFAC) manages the planning, design and construction of shore facilities for US Navy activities around the world. In July 20, 2009, a Filipina, Captain Paz B. Gomez assumed command of NAVFAC Engineering Service Center. Her previous position was Deputy Director of Installations Requirements and Management under the Office of the Deputy Undersecretary of Defense (Installations and Environment) at the Pentagon, Washington, DC, 2006-2009.

Capt. Gomez was born in Waukegan, Illinois and grew up in a military family. Her father was recruited into the navy from his hometown in Mendez, Cavite. "He wanted to give his family a better opportunity; so he signed up, first as a cook, then a steward. He studied electrical engineering and became an electrician," Gomez shared.

Capt. Gomez admitted that she grew up in a "typical Filipino family" with seven other siblings. She said that she loved the military lifestyle and that she didn’t mind moving every couple of years. Once her father found out that the US Navy has opened its doors to women, he began bringing navy catalogues home, which he would let the children browse. Paz read the catalogues and naturally became interested. She joined the US Navy in 1983.

Captain Gomez completed a Bachelor of Science degree in Civil Engineering from San Diego State University in 1983, a Master of Science in Civil Engineering from Stanford University in 1988, a Master of Science in Management from Troy State University in 1989, and the Advanced Executive Program at the Kellogg School of Management, Northwestern University, in 2005.

Initial tours included public works assignments at Naval Station Roosevelt Roads, Puerto Rico, 1983-1985, and Naval Technical Training Center, Corry Station, Pensacola, Florida, 1985-1987.

From 1988 to 1990, Captain Gomez was Officer in Charge of Naval Construction Battalion Unit 416 at Naval Air Station Alameda, California; 1990-1992, Assistant Resident Officer in Charge of Construction at ROICC San Francisco Bay Area; 1992-1995, Environmental Officer, Assistant Staff Civil Engineer, and SCE at Naval Air Station Miramar, San Diego, California; 1995-1996, Facilities Management Officer at Commander, Training Command, U.S. Pacific Fleet, San Diego; and 1996-1998, ROICC at OICC Far East Contracts Office, Okinawa, Japan.

From 1998 to 2000, Captain Gomez served as Head, Military Construction, Naval Reserve Budget Branch for the OPNAV Director of Naval Reserve, Washington, DC; 2000-2002, Executive or Military Assistant to senior civilian officials including the Assistant Secretary of the Navy (Installations and Environment) at the Pentagon; 2002-2003, Executive Officer at Navy Public Works Center, Pensacola; 2003-2004, Chief of Staff, Navy Region Gulf Coast, Pensacola; 2004-2006, Executive Officer, Naval Facilities Engineering Service Center, Port Hueneme, California.

Captain Gomez is a qualified Seabee Combat Warfare Officer, a member of the Navy Acquisition Corps, and a registered Professional Engineer in the state of California. Her personal decorations include the Defense Meritorious Service Medal, Meritorious Service Medal (4), Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal (3), and the Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal (2).

"We are here to defend our country, but we cannot deny the fact that we are Filipinos too. Even though we will gladly say we’re Americans, we will also gladly say that we are proud of our Filipino heritage," Capt. Gomez said. (AJPress)

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( Published February 3, 2010 in Asian Journal Los Angeles p. B2 )