Fil-Am US Navy officer awarded for leadership skills

 

A Philippine-born US Navy officer has received an award for his leadership during a humanitarian mission in Timor Leste.

In a ceremony on March 5, Petty Officer 1st Class Builder Mark A. Wells was given the Petty Officer 2nd Class Steelworker Robert D. Stethem award, which, according to the US Navy, is "a moral based award given to those upholding the highest of the United States Navy's core values and traditions."

The Pampanga-born Wells, assigned to Naval Mobile Construction Battalion (NMCB) 5, received the award for his work while assigned as Detail Timor Leste’s Operations chief and Battalion Quality Control Specialist during a US Pacific Command (PACOM) deployment.

According to his award citation, Wells led a team of 11 remotely located Seabees "through unfavorable conditions, completing the construction of two cable suspension bridges spanning a cumulative 156 meters and were completed in only 82 days."

Wells is also credited for leading 26 personnel to complete four humanitarian and civic assistance projects valued at $305,000 while tackling numerous logistical and environmental challenges.

"Petty Officer Wells has served with professionalism, pride, and humility since his arrival to NMCB FIVE in April of 2014," Lt. Cmdr. William Moiles, NMCB 5 operations office, said. "His dedication to the mission, his sailors, and our nation is unwavering. 

"We are grateful and fortunate to have a Seabee of his caliber on our team," he added.

In accepting his award, Wells thanked his "Seabee brothers and sisters" for their contributions in their mission.

"Unless you have given the ultimate sacrifice, not one individual truly deserves such recognition," he said. "I was honored to receive this award on behalf of my team in Timor Leste.  My Seabee brothers and sisters poured their hearts out building schools, maternity wards, and bridges supporting the communities in the country. I’m just humbled to have had the opportunity to serve."

Wells was born in Angeles City in Pampanga, and migrated to the US in November 2003. He joined the US Navy two years later.

The Petty Officer 2nd Class Steelworker Robert D. Stethem award is named  Robert D. Stethem, who was killed in 1985 by Hezbollah terrorists that hijacked a TWA flight during his return from an assignment in Greece with Underwater Construction Team (UCT) 1. He was posthumously awarded the bronze star medal and advanced to Master Chief Constructionman. —KBK, GMA News