Farewell Lt. Col. Mike Navarro

ST. CROIX, VIRGIN ISLANDS, US

05.20.2018

Story by Sgt. Priscilla Desormeaux 

Virgin Islands National Guard, 51st Public Affairs Detachment

Lt. Col. Mike Navarro, assigned as the Virgin Islands National Guard 104th troop commander for the past two years, has proven to measure up to those words and to the high level of integrity he demands of himself.
With 32 years of service under his belt, Navarro has held positions as company commander for HHD 260th Military Intelligence Battalion at the Florida National Guard, Total Force Integrator at Ft. Huachuca, AZ, and becoming the Branch Chief for Counterintelligence in Human Intelligence at the National Guard Bureau before coming to the VING. While in the VING he has mentored and motivated his subordinates to continuously operate to military standards.
During Navarro’s tenure, he commanded the 104th Troop Command during what was possibly the Virgin Islands’ worst hurricane season ever recorded. Hurricane’s Irma and Maria made landfall on St. Croix, St. Thomas and St. John respectively, becoming the costliest damage inflicted by a Caribbean hurricane on record.
Faced with the need to react quickly, Navarro led the battalion in beginning the recovery efforts, road clearing, pod operations and supporting St. Thomas and St. John in their respective efforts.
“Two years ago, I said, ‘not if, but when,’” said Navarro. “I had no idea that a year and a half later it would come to fruition. But we were prepared because this battalion had the training.”
Upon leaving the VING, Navarro will be headed to Ft. Bragg. He will be an Army National Guard liaison at Force Command, working in the intelligence directorate. He looks forward to reuniting with his family after two years of being away.
Reminiscing about his time here, Navarro knows the legacy he is leaving behind and hopes that future leaders will aspire to do the same and leave a positive imprint on the VING.
“Everyone will always think of me as this unique character with all this energy and all this passion,” said Navarro. “But a lot of it is just purpose and direction so there’s no misunderstanding. As leaders, we are called to lead and part of it is that ‘leading by example.’ If I could leave anything to future leaders, it’s to lead by example, but be a leader of integrity so that your word means something.”

• Date Taken: 05.20.2018
• Date Posted: 05.20.2018 18:54
• Story ID: 277676
• Location: ST. CROIX, VI