Pinoy Navy Vet Earns Achievement Medal at Pearl Harbor

A Filipino-born U.S. Navy sailor is being celebrated for nearly two decades of service after earning one of the military’s top honors at Pearl Harbor. Petty Officer 1st Class Albert Mendoza was born in Alicia, Isabela, Philippines.

He was awarded the Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal for his leadership, mentorship and contributions to fleet readiness.

From Isabela to the U.S. Navy

Mendoza now calls Carson, California, home, but his roots in Isabela remain central to who he is. Representing both his Filipino heritage and his adopted hometown, while serving thousands of miles away, is a source of deep personal pride for him.

“It is a great source of pride and honor,” Mendoza said. “It represents the values of hard work, humility, perseverance and respect for others.”

That upbringing, he said, shaped how he approaches his work today. Mendoza has spent 19 years in the Navy as a retail services specialist.

He is currently assigned to Naval Supply Systems Command (NAVSUP) Fleet Logistics Center (FLC) Pearl Harbor.

Achievement Medal Caps Years of Mentorship

Mendoza earned the medal for his work with the Fleet Assist team. He provided technical assistance, training and mentorship to sailors across the waterfront.

“This recognition was earned through my work with the Fleet Assist team, providing technical assistance, training and mentorship to sailors across the waterfront,” Mendoza said.

His efforts also supported improved supply readiness and sailor development fleet-wide. Beyond the medal, Mendoza helped select the fiscal year 2024 NAVSUP FLC Pearl Harbor Junior Sailor of the Year.

He was also named the 2024 Navy League Sea Service Award recipient.

For Mendoza, the honors reflect more than personal achievement. “These awards and recognitions mean a lot to me because it represents my hard work, dedication and teamwork with the sailors I have had the opportunity to serve with and mentor,” he said.

Serving at Pearl Harbor has also given Mendoza a deeper connection to naval history. “I did not expect the history of Pearl Harbor to impact me so personally,” he said.

He added that the weight of that responsibility has made the experience especially meaningful. Mendoza hopes his story resonates with people back home in the Philippines.

He said serving at Pearl Harbor means carrying forward its legacy while preparing for the fleet’s future challenges. That sense of duty, he added, continues to guide his approach to leadership.

NAVSUP FLC Pearl Harbor is one of 11 commands under the NAVSUP Enterprise, supporting forward operations across the Indo-Pacific.

NAVSUP, headquartered in Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania, provides supply, acquisition and logistics support to the Navy and joint force worldwide.