NCTAMS PAC February 2023 Sailor of the Month YN2 Samantha L. Ropero

ByEnsignEricaKobashigawa

Naval Information Forces Naval Computer and TelecommunicationsAreaMasterStation,Pacific(NCTAMS PAC)ispleasedtointroduceYeomanSecond ClassSamanthaL.Ropero!

A native of Miami, Florida, Petty Officer Second Class Samantha Ropero graduated from Nova High School in 2016 and is currentlyworkingonherdegreeinBiomedicalScience BorntoafamilyfromColombia, her biggest supporters are her mom, Luz, and brother Alejandro. She decided to join theUnitedStatesNavytofurtherhereducation and travel the world and she has taken fulladvantageofthatopportunity.

Afloat, Petty Officer Ropero completed toursstationedaboardtheNuclear-powered aircraft carrier USS THEODORE ROOSEVELT (CVN 71) and with Helicopter Sea CombatSquadronSIXaboardUSSNIMITZ (CVN-68) During her sea tours she made three deployments - the first was to the Arabian Gulf in support of the U.S. FIFTH Fleet area of responsibility (AOR), the second, in support of Carrier Strike Group 9 operations to the U.S. SEVENTH Fleet AOR and third, to the Mediterranean Sea in support of operations in the U.S. THIRD FleetAOR.

PettyOfficerRoperoiscurrentlyassigned to NCTAMS PAC. She is the N11 Assistant Workcenter Supervisor Command Evaluations Yeoman,andPlanoftheWeekCoordinator Petty Officer Ropero’s personal awardsincludetheNavyandMarineCorps AchievementMedal(withGoldStars)along with multiple unit and service awards She iscurrentlylivingonOahu,Hawaiiwithher 2dogs

PettyOfficerRoperowasrecentlyselected by NCTAMS PAC and Naval Information Forces (NAVIFOR) to represent them at Miami Navy Week as part of the Fleet Outreach Ambassador Team (FLOAT). The Navy Week program has served as the Navy’s principal outreach effort into areas of the nation without a significant Navy presence Theprogramisdesignedtoshare withAmericanshowtheirNavyisdeployed aroundtheworldandaroundtheclock and why a strong Navy is vital to protecting the Americanwayoflife.Sailorsselectedaspart of the FLOAT program are stellar performers and hometown heroes with ties to each NavyWeekcity.

Petty Officer Ropero’s experience in her ownwords: “It was such an honor being picked by NAVIFOR for Miami Navy Week, it was an incredibleexperience Mymostmemorable momentwasprobablysurprisingmymom.I didn’ttellherIwascomingforaworktrip so shethoughtIwasstillonisland.Mybrother decided to join me on the surprise which was amazing because he was the person who raised me my entire childhood and it’s beenalmost10 years sincewelast saw each othersobeingreunitedaftersolongwasthe best feeling My favorite memory is being picked to sit courtside and warm-up with theMiamiHeat.IactuallyaskedtheMiami Heat manager if I could invite my mom to sit courtside with me which he said yes to Itwassuchanexperiencebeingabletotalk to the players and take tons of pictures My mom and I were also interviewed for the news and she kept thanking me for giving heraonceinalifetimeopportunityofsitting courtside at her first ever basketball game Sherecordedeverysecondoftheexperience asanyHispanicmomwould.Othermoments

I’ll remember forever is volunteering at the Boys and Girls Club, playing soccer with all the kids, and cleaning up South Beach with a huge group of volunteers. Tips for others who want to participate in the program: 1) Beoutgoing,showthatyouwanttoactually be there and represent the Navy for Navy Week; 2) Pitch ideas you would like to see happen during your time there; 3) Be yourself but also step out of your comfort zone if you are not an extroverted person. They will give many great opportunities to those whoseekit.”