Chief Disbursing Clerk Juan Flores, USN. In 1991 on board
USS Cushing.
Accept the Challenge
Like many others before me, I
wasn’t clear as to what I would do
upon retirement. I competed for a
position with the Texas Department
of Public Safety headquarters in
Austin, TX where I knew nothing
about Biometrics. However, once
again my Navy training, skills and
confidence kicked in. I accepted the
By Juan Flores, Disbursing Clerk Senior Chief Petty
Officer, DKCS (AW) USN, (Ret.)
Growing up in Copperas Cove, Texas, adjacent
to Fort Hood Army base, I was exposed to
the Military at a very early age. My father and two
older brothers served in the Army, one brother
served in Vietnam. My sister served in the U.S.
Navy as a Hospital Corpsman and my younger
brother retired as a Navy Boatswane’s mate. Our
family served our country without hesitation and
with great PRIDE!
challenge and was selected for the job over more qualified
individuals. Again, I contribute my Navy leadership and management
experience and discipline as a significant difference why I was
selected for this high visibility and challenging job.
Eight years later, I accepted a Sales Manager position (again,
no prior sales experience) in the Biometrics and Identification
industry, with a focus in Law Enforcement support. I was now
a part of the highly competitive corporate America. Again, my
experiences prepared me for success in this new challenge.
In closing, I leave you with this: Be proud of this great country
and serve it well. Use your military training and skills to succeed. Be
a mentor! Pay it forward! Accept the challenge!
Juan Flores is from Copperas Cove, Texas and has three brothers
and a sister who all served in the military. After graduating from
Copperas Cove High School in 1977, he enlisted in the United
States Navy and served his country for over 20 years. Prior
to his retirement, he reached the rank of Senior Chief Petty
Officer (E-8). He is currently the Law Enforcement Account
Manager with Fulcrum Biometrics, LLC. He is married and
has three daughters. He resides in the Salado, Texas area.
A Veteran's Perspective
Like many of my Navy buddies,
I joined the “Greatest Navy in
the World” immediately after
graduating high school. I wanted to
experience the “Navy Adventure”!
I had convinced myself, early on,
that if I ever joined any branch of
service, I was going to do it right
and I was going to make it at
least a 20-year commitment. I proudly served and traveled the
world. I was often referred to as an ambassador and they paid
me to do be part of the adventure! Wow!
My Navy career started at Recruit Training Command, San
Diego, CA. I also served onboard the USS Kinkaid (DD-965),
San Diego, CA, USS Midway (CV-41), Yokosuka, Japan, USS
Arthur W Radford (DD-968), Norfolk, VA, USS Cushing (DD-985),
Pearl Harbor, HI. I was also fortunate to experience shore
assignments. I served at Personnel Support Detachment, Military
Pay Division, Naval Air Station, Beeville, TX. Was a Course
Instructor at Disbursing Clerk “A” School, Naval Education and
Training Command, Naval Air Station, Meridian, MS., where I
earned my Master Training Specialist designation. After that, I was
assigned as the Military Pay Director, Recruit Training Command,
Great Lakes and my last assignment before retirement was as the
Assistant Officer in Charge Personnel Support Activity Detachment,
Naval Training Center, Great Lakes, IL.
I’ve always told my family, I was fortunate to wear the U.S.
Navy uniform, however, I was only successful, because of their
unselfishness and support. My three daughters and wife (high
school sweetheart) constantly share great memories of living in
California, Japan, Hawaii, Mississippi and Texas.
LS
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