Master Chief Petty Officer Valentino Separa, USN, (Ret.)

Master Chief Separa was born in Cavite City, Philippines on 14 February 1953. He enlisted in U.S. Navy at Subic Bay, Philippines in August 1972. After Boot Camp, he reported to Waterfront Department at Naval Station San Diego.

After completing his shore duty in December 1974, he reported aboard the USS CONSTELLATION (CVA-64). He worked in the Catapult and Elevator Shop and later as the Leading Petty Officer of the Flight Deck Lighting Shop. He continued sea duty tour at Assault Craft Unit ONE, Naval Amphibious Base Coronado. He made a deployment on-board the USS DENVER (LPD-6) and USS DULUTH (LPD-9). In September 1979, he attended the Basic Instructor Training School and reported to Recruit Training Command San Diego as a Recruit Company Commander. He graduated 6 Recruit Companies and has qualified as Master Training Specialist (MTS) designation. He was frocked to Chief Petty Officer in September 1982.

He graduated from EM C-7 School at Service School Command Great Lakes, in April 1983. Following six months of C School, he reported for sea duty on-board the USS BAGLEY (FF- 1069). While on-board the BAGLEY, he qualified as Enlisted Surface Warfare Specialist (ESWS) and Junior Officer of the Deck (JOOD) UNDERWAY. He was promoted to Senior Chief in April 1985 and to Master Chief in April 1988. During his

64 months tour aboard the frigate, he assumed several key billets including Electrical Division LCPO, Electrical Officer, 3M and SNAP II Coordinator, Repair Officer/Ships Maintenance Management Officer, and Command Senior Chief. He completed 3 Western Pacific deployments and a major ship overhaul. He graduated from the Senior Enlisted Academy in December 1986.

In October 1988, he reported to the Commander, Oceanographic System Pacific, Pearl Harbor as the Public Works Center (PWC) Officer and Safety Inspector. While there, he applied and was selected for the Command Master Chief Program. He served as Command Master Chief of Naval Ocean Processing Facility Ford Island, Hawaii from December 1990 to April 1992. He returned to sea duty in May 1992 as the Command Master Chief of USS DUBUQUE (LPD-8), a member of Forward Deployed Naval Forces (FDNF) in Japan. He completed his sea tour in September 1995 and reported as the Base Command Master Chief for Commander, U.S. Fleet Activities, Sasebo, Japan.

In January 1997, he applied and was selected as the CNO Directed Command Master Chief for Commander, U.S. Naval Forces Marianas. He served as Regional Master Chief from May 1997 to June 2000. His last four years in the Navy was in the U.S. Naval Hospital Guam as their Command Master Chief. He completed 32 years of active duty in the US Navy on August 31, 2004.

Master Chief Separa's personal decorations include the Meritorious Service Medal (2 awards), Navy Commendation Medal (5 awards) and Navy Achievement Medal (2 awards), as well as various unit and campaign awards. He holds an Associate and Bachelor of Science Degree in Liberal Arts and Master's Degree in Human Relations through the University of Oklahoma. He is married to the former Yolanda Cue Caronan. They have three children, all of which are San Diego State University graduates; Valerie, BS in Special Ed; Valentino JR, Masters in Public Administration; and Vernon, BS in Computer Engineering (Robotic). They have one granddaughter named Breanna.

In August 2004, he successfully completed 23 years of Naval service. Prior to retiring from the Navy, Master Chief Separa was certified by Naval Service Training Command (NSTC) as Naval Science Instructor. Upon retirement, he applied and was hired to teach as a NJROTC Naval Science Instructor at Father Duenas Memorial School. He started working as the Naval Science Instructor at Father Duenas NJROTC in SY 2004- 2005.

During the end of SY 2008-2009, Master Chief Separa was asked by the school principal to assume duties as the Senior Naval Science Instructor. It was because the incumbent SNSI was contemplating on retiring. He graciously accepted the challenge but with hesitation. He assumed duties as the FDMS NJROTC SNSI starting SY 2009-2010.

Master Chief Separa has brought the Phoenix Company NJROTC to a new height. During that 5 year span, FDMS NJROTC was awarded 3 times with the Distinguished Unit Award, 2 of which was with Academic Honors and 1 Unit Achievement Award. On 2 Pass in Review Ceremonies, Rear Admiral Bushong and Tilghman were the Reviewing Officers. He definitely exemplified the "Leadership by Example," because he has volunteered to teach in the Area 13 NJROTC Leadership Academy. He taught 7 years at Hawaii Leadership Academy (HILA) and 2 years at Northwest Leadership Academy (NWLA). At this Area 31 NJROTC Leadership Academy, FDMS has consistently sent an average of 5 cadets for the past 10 years. 

Under Master Chief Separa's tutelage, FD NJROTC has been active on all facets of NJROTC Program including in Academics, Physical Fitness, Marksmanship, Orienteering, Orientation and Drill and Ceremonies. Achieving the goal of JROTC of Citizen Development, Phoenix Company has been consistently involved in several community projects throughout the island, performing at village clean-up and parades, International Coastal Clean-up and Guam Liberation Parade, Veterans and Memorial Day Ceremonies. It has participated and acclaimed honors in Academics, Physical Fitness and Drill Competitions. The Phoenix Company Academic Team, 2 occasions has competed in Washington, DC at the Tri-Service College Option JROTC Academic Competition. This last school year, the academic team would have gone to Washington, DC again but due to budget constraints, the competition was done online. The team was the first overall runner up. It was this year when the Phoenix Company officially adopted a road through the Island Beautification Program of the LT Governor.

NJROTC cadets have also been active in school sports, school council, national honor society and several clubs and organizations. About 30 percent of cadets are consistently in the quarterly school honors list. During the annual commencement exercises, several FD cadets graduated with honors including Valedictorian and Salutatorian. In each graduating class, several cadets have gained scholarships through the ROTC and Service Academy. 

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