Beyond the Call of Duty and Service

USA - English

• Latin America - español

MIAMI, July 18, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- America's Navy is proud to honor its current and former Navy personnel through the "Beyond the Call" diversity campaign. These servicemen and servicewomen have extended themselves beyond the call of duty professionally and personally, and are making a positive impact in the communities where they serve. Using the tools, training and experiences as serving members of the U.S. Navy, these individuals are working to be A Global Force for Good, and help build a better future for all. Our honorees' stories will be released bi-weekly and can be found on the U.S. Navy Life  and U.S. Navy Latinos Facebook pages.

Commander Horacio Fernandez, Diversity Director at Navy Recruitment Command, states, "'Beyond the Call' is just one way the U.S. Navy honors Sailors of diverse backgrounds and experiences. These Sailors are examples of individuals who demonstrate their commitment beyond the call of duty to help make their communities a better place to live. These individuals are just the tip of the iceberg of those we wish to honor, and we ask our visitors to share their stories of their Navy achievers by uploading a story and photo on the Facebook page."

Meet our Sailors: (Note: honoree stories released bi-weekly)

Commander Katrina Pringle, (Video to debut the week of July 16) a certified pediatric nurse practitioner, is currently stationed at Naval Medical Center, San Diego. At the Center, she works as a regional case review committee member, helping to provide protection, clinical and social services to military families. A native of Jacksonville, FL, Pringle joined the Navy in 1991 to secure a future in nursing; her career began by providing medical care for refugees and evacuees. Since then she has been stationed around the world, and played a vital role in offering support to wounded sailors during the bombing of the USS Cole in 2000. Married and a mother of two, Pringle works with the Junior Achievement program where she mentors children on the importance of entrepreneurship, fiscal literacy and work ethic.

Commander Debra Yniguez (Video to debut the week of July 30) has climbed far, and fast, since commissioning in as a Student Naval Aerospace Physiologist in 1995. As a Hispanic female thriving in a historically male field, Yniguez credits the Navy with enabling her to progress well beyond traditional boundaries. In her subsequent posting as Deputy Diversity Officer for the Navy Bureau of Medicine and Surgery, she has been privileged to facilitate similar opportunities for many others. Today, exciting new responsibilities are in play for Yniguez. Down the road, she hopes to put her Navy experience to work in Africa.

Lieutenant Dalone T. Jenkins (Video to debut the week of August 13) is a staff engineer at Naval Special Warfare Group ONE in San Diego.  Married and the father of two, Jenkins joined the Navy in 2005. A native of Brooklyn, NY, he has worked for humanitarian missions, on construction at the Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton and in Al Anbar Province in Iraq. Jenkins gives back to the community through his participation with Habitat for Humanity and involvement in the National Naval Officer Association (NNOA) and church outreach programs. He also volunteers with the Beyer Elementary Physical Fitness Program in San Diego.

Lieutenant Nehkonti Adams, (Video to debut the week of August 27) a daughter of Liberian immigrants, joined the Navy in 1994. A native of Burnsville, MN, she began her career as a deck seaman, but made education a priority. Now a physician and Infectious Diseases Fellow, Adams organized three mission trips to the Dominica Orphanage in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic. She also has served as an educator in Tar Wars, a non-smoking program that educates middle school students, and headed community fundraising for the Norfolk Emergency Shelter Team.

Barry Cordero (Video to debut the week of September 10) is a Sr. Supplier Engineer at Medtronic, Inc., a medical devices company headquartered in Minneapolis, MN. Just days after graduating from high school, Cordero left the south side of Chicago for the Navy's Nuclear Power Program where he mastered the operation of nuclear aircraft carrier electrical systems, including the USS Nimitz. With the Navy's support behind him, he was also able to complete his university work in San Diego. Accumulating senior-level experience so early in his career helped give Cordero a competitive edge in the private sector, where he now works. In tribute to his Mexican heritage and love of science, he maintains a leadership role in the Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers (SHPE).

Lieutenant Frederick Atienza (Video to debut the week of September 24) is a 14-year naval officer and serves as the chief engineer on the USS THACH. He has served in the Persian Gulf and has been deployed onboard numerous ships around the world. Married with three children and a native of San Diego, CA, Atienza has focused his energy and enthusiasm on volunteerism amidst deployment and surge operations around the world. He supports the Wounded Warrior's Program in San Diego and teaches self-defense and martial arts classes for women.

SOURCE U.S. Navy