The Joint Expeditionary Base Little Creek-Fort Story installation commander was recently named the Stars and Stripes newspaper’s Navy 2022 Black Engineer of the Year (BEYA).
Of the approximately 30 certified nurse midwifes in the Navy, there is only one with Asian American Pacific Islander heritage.
May is designated as Asian American Pacific Islander Heritage Month, May 6-12 serves as National Nurses Week and May 13 is the Navy Nurse Corps 113th birthday at the intersect of these three recognitions is Navy Lt. Cmdr. Cheryl Castro. I am the first, and according to our specialty leader, only Filipino active duty Navy Nurse Corps certified nurse midwife (CNM), said Castro, who is stationed at Navy Medicine Readiness and Training Command Bremerton. When I found out I was the only active duty Navy CNM of Asian American Pacific Islander heritage I was surprised. However, it s made me extremely proud because diversity is one of the Navy s biggest strengths. It reminds me how the Navy provided me equal opportunity and rooted out bias. It proves to me the Navy continues to reflect the nation s diversity and commitment to treat everyone with dignity and re