Kalaheo High School NJROTC Command/Unit Philosophy

We forge citizens of outstanding character rooted in the Navy Core Values of Honor, Courage, and Commitment. Our unwavering mission is to always do all things with excellence and develop high-value United States citizens who lead with integrity and serve with distinction.

We lead by example in every action. We lift others as we rise - never looking down on a fellow human being unless we are reaching down to help them up. We pursue knowledge relentlessly and learn from every experience, every challenge, and every shipmate.

Our bold vision is being the best NJROTC unit in the United States - setting the standard through relentless discipline, selfless service, and the proud Aloha spirit of Kalaheo High School.

Instructor Info

Senior Naval Science Instructor

Lieutenant Commander Fernando Cerezo, USN (Ret.)

Lieutenant Commander Fernando Cerezo is a native of Paterson, New Jersey. He enlisted in the U.S. Navy in 1996 as a Utilitiesman with the Seabees and later converted to the Master-at-Arms rate in 1999. Selected for advancement to Chief Petty Officer in September 2008, he was commissioned as a Limited Duty Officer in October 2012.

Commander Cerezo holds a Master of Science in Business Leadership (2019) and a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration (2011), both from Trident University. He is a qualified Surface, Air, and Seabee Combat Warfare Specialist, Naval Security Force Officer (NSFO), and Afloat Training Specialist (ATS).

His officer assignments include serving as Security Operations Officer at Naval Support Activity, Kingdom of Bahrain; Anti-Terrorism and Weapons Officer at Coastal Riverine Squadron THREE, San Diego, California; Security Police Director at Naval Air Station Whiting Field, Milton, Florida; Force Protection Officer at Commander, U.S. Pacific Fleet, Pearl Harbor, Hawaii; and Deputy Security Director at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, Hawaii.

Enlisted tours of duty included Naval Construction Battalion 74 in Gulfport, Mississippi; Naval Station Roosevelt Roads, Ceiba, Puerto Rico; Naval Weapons Station Earle, New Jersey; Naval Air Station Misawa, Japan; USS Ronald Reagan (CVN 76); and Naval Recruiting District New England, Massachusetts.

Commander Cerezo participated in the following campaigns: Operation Enduring Freedom, Operation Inherent Resolve, and Support of Operation Iraqi Freedom.

Commander Cerezo’s personal awards include the Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal (six awards), Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal (eight awards), Military Outstanding Volunteer Service Medal (two awards), and Humanitarian Service Medal (two awards), along with various unit and campaign awards. From 2025–2026, he served as the U.S. Army Transition Assistance Program (TAP) Contract Installation Manager for the U.S. Army Pacific Area of Responsibility, overseeing all contracted transition counselors supporting service members across the theater.

Fernando "Fern" Cerezo

Lieutenant Commander, USN (Retired)

Senior Naval Science Instructor 

Kalaheo High School, NJROTC 

fernando.cerezo@k12.hi.us

Work phone: 808 305 0173

Naval Science Instructor

1stSgt USMC (Retired) Brian Shields was born and raised in Amarillo, Texas. He graduated from Palo Duro High School and soon after enlisted in the USMC. He graduated recruit training in 2000 and went on to have a humbling, rewarding, exciting career serving at various duty stations throughout the United States and overseas. Brian served in a myriad of job titles such as: Squad Leader, Platoon Sergeant, Company Gunnery Sergeant, 1stSgt/Senior Enlisted Advisor. He served in a variety of job billets: Marine Corps Martial Arts Instructor, Drill Instructor, Staff Noncommissioned Officer Academy Instructor. He deployed to Iraq and Afghanistan, and participated in numerous Unit Deployment Programs to Okinawa. After a successful 20 year USMC career he then retired from Marine Corps Base Hawaii (MCBH). He started up the DOD Skillbridge accredited Airstreams Renewables Inc (ARI) on MCBH and served as the Training Supervisor for roughly two years. In 2022, Brian was lucky enough to earn his dream job as a Navy Junior Reserve Officers Training Corps (NJROTC) Naval Science Instructor (NSI) at Kalaheo High School. Brian has a strong compassion for teaching and developing future American leaders and high quality citizens. Brian earned a Masters of Arts in Management and Organizational Leadership.

Contact: brian.shields@k12.hi.us