Fil-Am sailor marks 19 years of U.S. Navy service

U.S. Navy Petty Officer 1st Class Albert Mendoza, a retail services specialist assigned to Naval Supply Systems Command (NAVSUP) Fleet Logistics Center (FLC) Pearl Harbor, is being recognized for nearly two decades of service, leadership and mentorship that have helped strengthen sailor development and fleet readiness.

A native of Carson, California, Mendoza has served in the U.S. Navy for 19 years. Throughout his career, he has focused not only on mission accomplishment but also on helping fellow sailors develop their skills and succeed.

“I was awarded the Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal,” Mendoza said. “This recognition was earned through my work with the Fleet Assist team, providing technical assistance, training and mentorship to sailors across the waterfront.”

His work has contributed to shipboard supply readiness, sailor development and overall mission readiness. Among his contributions was support for the selection of the fiscal year 2024 NAVSUP FLC Pearl Harbor Junior Sailor of the Year. He was also recognized as a 2024 Navy League Sea Service Award recipient.

For Mendoza, such recognition is less about individual achievement than the people he has worked with and mentored throughout his career.

“These awards and recognitions mean a lot to me because it represents my hard work, dedication and teamwork with the sailors I have had the opportunity to serve with and mentor,” Mendoza said. “They remind me that our work makes a difference and motivates me to continue leading and mentoring others to succeed.”

While Carson is his hometown, Mendoza’s connection to the Philippines remains an important part of his story. He was born in Alicia, Isabela, Philippines, and said representing his family and hometown while serving thousands of miles away is a source of pride.

“It is a great source of pride and honor,” Mendoza said. “It represents the values of hard work, humility, perseverance and respect for others.”

His assignment at Pearl Harbor has also deepened his appreciation for the history and responsibility that come with serving at one of the U.S. Navy’s most historically significant locations.

“I did not expect the history of Pearl Harbor to impact me so personally,” Mendoza said. “The history, heritage and responsibility we carry have made this experience serving at Pearl Harbor especially meaningful.”

For Mendoza, Pearl Harbor is not simply a place remembered for its past, but a place where today’s sailors carry forward a continuing responsibility.

“Serving at Pearl Harbor means being part of that continuing legacy and preparing for future challenges,” he said.

After 19 years in uniform, Mendoza continues to see leadership and mentorship as central to his service, carrying into his work the values he learned from his family and hometown while helping prepare the next generation of sailors.

NAVSUP FLC Pearl Harbor is one of 11 commands within the NAVSUP Enterprise. It enables forward operations and sustains fleet readiness throughout the Indo-Pacific.

Naval Supply Systems Command provides supply, acquisition and logistics support to the U.S. Navy and joint force worldwide. Headquartered in Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania, NAVSUP employs military and civilian personnel across the globe.

Together, NAVSUP and the Navy Supply Corps support global supply chain management, acquisition, operational logistics, and sailor and family services in partnership with the fleet to generate readiness and sustain naval forces.