permanent homes. A first-generation college graduate in her family, Reay
pulls a lot of strength from her family and hopes to create an easier path for
her daughter when she comes of age to enter the workforce.
“With all our small sacrifices and fights to break the barriers of the
glass ceiling, we are paving the way for the next generation to not have to
fight so hard to be treated as valuable competent assets,” she shares.
Lieutenant Gabriella
C. Deza
U.S. Coast Guard
“I joined the Coast Guard for their strong
humanitarian role,” shares Lieutenant
Gabriella C. Deza, Assistant Supply
Department Head, U.S. Coast Guard.
“Search and rescue, which is just one of
11 different missions the Coast Guard
undertakes, is a duty I have always dreamt
of providing. Between the adrenaline, the
crew coordination and the resultant saving of a human life…it’s all such a
privilege to be a part of.”
Born in Miami, Florida to parents Isabel and Guillermo Deza, both
immigrants from Venezuela and Peru, Lieutenant Deza currently serves as
an MH-65D helicopter pilot at Air Station Borinquen in Aguadilla, Puerto Rico.
She aids in the planning and safe execution of international search and
rescue, law enforcement, homeland security, and training missions in the
1.3 million square mile area of responsibility surrounding Puerto Rico and the
Virgin Islands. She is also the Assistant Supply Officer and manages an
$820,000 annual budget, $470,000 contract services agreements, and
$2,000,000 in accountable general-purpose property. In addition to her
assigned duties she serves as the chair of the Leadership and Diversity
Advisory Council (LDAC) for the Air Station and Base Detachment Borinquen.
Enlisting in the Coast Guard in 2013, Lieutenant Deza graduated
from Florida Memorial University in 2015 with a Bachelor of Science in
Aeronautical Science.
For First Lieutenant De Jesus, meeting new people with different life
experiences, mentoring and sharing her experiences is the best part of her
job. Her advice to Latinas entering the workforce is to never give up no
matter how tough it gets.
“You never know who is looking up to you so be humble, do not change
yourself to fit into the position or title of your job, do not become complacent
and help others,” she shares. “The mark I would like to leave is that others
look at me and say no matter what she went through, or how tough it got
she never gave up. I want those around me to never give up on themselves
and their dreams.”
Master Sergeant
Christian Johnson
U.S. Air Force
“I realized I wanted to join the military at
a very young age,” shares Master
Sergeant Christian Johnson. “As a high
school student, I was an active member of
our Air Force Junior ROTC program and
really enjoyed everything that had to do
with that class.”
Enlisting soon after graduating High School and entering Basic Military
Training at the age of 17, Master Sergeant Johnson now serves as the
Superintendent, Executive Services, Secretary of the Air Force, Office of
Legislative Liaison, the Pentagon, Washington, District of Columbia.
Sergeant Johnson leads the Executive Services section and provides direct
executive support to Director, Deputy Director, Director of Staff, and O-6 level
Division Chiefs on Congressional matters. Additionally, she manages
processes and procedures for 28 administrative programs in support of
more than 99 members across six divisions ranging within 24 disparate
congressional offices throughout the Air Force. Born in Reynosa, Mexico
and raised in Brownsville, Texas, she has held multiple positions at different
levels in different parts of the world, and by far, the best part of her job is the
people she meets, works with and creates lifelong friendships with.
Stephanie Garcia
Reay
U.S. Air Force
Mrs. Stephanie G. Reay is a Unit Program
Coordinator assigned to the 351st Air
Refueling Squadron, RAF Mildenhall United
Kingdom. Born in Sacramento, California,
she attended San Francisco State
University and received her Bachelors in
Psychology while working full-time and
interning with CASA, the Court Appointed Special Advocate Non-Profit
Organization. She aided the organization of charity events to attract sponsors
to support and promote court-appointed advocates for abused or neglected
children in order to provide children a safe and healthy environment in
Dr. Elizabeth Rivero
U.S. Coast Guard
Academy
“Through my interactions with cadets and
colleagues at CGA, both in and outside
of the classroom, I learned about the
selflessness of Coast Guard men and
women who risk their lives to save those
in peril at sea, ensure the safety of their
fellow citizens, and protect the environment,” shares Dr. Elizabeth Rivero, U.S.
Coast Guard Academy’s Associate Professor of Spanish and faculty advisor
for the Compañeros Diversity Council.
32 www.latinastyle.com LATINAStyle V ol. 26, No. 6, 2020
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