Photo By Petty Officer 1st Class Natalia Murillo | LAKE WORTH, Fla. (Sept. 30, 2025) Logistics Specialist 1st Class Kimberly Nguyen,...... read more read more
LAKE WORTH, Fla.—Logistics Specialist 1st Class Kimberly Nguyen joined the Navy from Syracuse, New York, in January of 2015 to make her parents proud and better herself. Nearly a decade later, she is recognized as Navy Talent Acquisition Group (NTAG) Miami’s Sailor in the Spotlight for her ability to inspire and elevate others.
“The Navy has helped me with my main, and biggest goals, which was making my parents proud and being able to help them buy a new home and move them for retirement,” said Nguyen.
Military service runs in Nguyen’s family. Her brother served in the Air Force as a senior airman from 2018 to 2022 and in the Air National Guard from 2022 to 2023, while her father and grandfather served in the South Vietnamese military, continuing a legacy of dedication and service across generations.
Building on that family tradition, Nguyen believes she has also gained many personal and professional benefits from her enlistment decision.
“I’ve been able to travel to over 30 countries and I completed my associate and bachelor’s of arts degrees,” said Nguyen, who earned a Bachelor or Arts degree from Columbia College of Missouri in 2021. “The Navy has provided me with growth, experience, and financial stability for me and my family.”
Nguyen began her naval career as a Retail Specialist. She deployed overseas with her first command, the Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Gridley (DDG 101) where she served from May 2015 through March 2020. She reported to NTAG Miami in May 2020, and upon completing her active duty contract, she transitioned to the Navy Reserve.
As a reservist Sailor, Nguyen changed her job to Logistic Specialist and requested to return to NTAG Miami.
With more than 100 jobs, the Navy offers Sailors many routes to pursue during their Navy careers. These careers benefit those who join by allowing them to meet their goals while gaining a variety of skills and serving our nation. Nguyen believes recruiting allows her to share these opportunities with others.
“The most rewarding part of recruiting is actually being able to provide applicants with opportunity and give them the power to change their lives for the better, just like the Navy has done for me,” said Nguyen.
Nguyen, who says she plans on making a career out of naval service, serves as the recruiter in charge at Navy Recruiting Station Lakeworth. Her supervisors praise her leadership.
“Hands down, LS1 Nguyen is one of the most persistent leaders I’ve encountered,” said Chief Navy Counselor (Recruiting) Craig Prazak, division three chief lead petty officer, and her immediate supervisor. “She holds herself and her recruiters to the highest standard, keeps her focus on the mission, and consistently exceeds it. I can personally attest that she is an exemplary leader. “
Nguyen sought to become a recruiter five years ago because she believed it would give her the challenge she was looking for.
“I wanted to challenge myself to do something different and learn something new,” said Nguyen. “When I first came to recruiting it was a big adjustment period for me because it was totally different from the ship and it took me some time to overcome that and learn a lot of new things.”
Nguyen believes she met the challenges of recruiting head-on, turning them into opportunities to grow and establish herself as a leader at NTAG Miami.
“While recruiting I have been put in two different stations that were way behind the curve and I was able to step in and bring those offices out of the hole and to be able to succeed, make their performance goals and build on teamwork with those individual offices,” said Nguyen. “Some of the other proud accomplishments of mine while in the Navy would be achieving Sailor of the Year, meritoriously advanced to third class and second class petty officer, and being able to be promoted to first class.”
She credits a valued mentor at the command for helping fuel her drive and determination.
“Chief Teresa Leon has been a great mentor to me since she was my lead petty officer, and then my division lead petty officer,” said Nguyen. “She always pushed me to strive to do better and always saw the best in me.”
Recognition for Nguyen resonates across the command.
“Petty Officer Nguyen, is a genuine leader and true professional,” said Cmdr. Amanda Sciberras, commanding officer of NTAG Miami. “She sets the example for her Sailors of what success looks like, while emulating positivity and professionalism. LS1 Nguyen can recruit the best and brightest for the fleet because she is one of the best and brightest.”
Nguyen believes her Navy journey highlights the essence of recruiting: leading by example, motivating others to rise to the challenge, and helping shape the future of the fleet.
“We all only have one life,” Nguyne said. “Nothing is promised. So if you want to do something, go after it. Shift your mindset on not thinking or asking yourself what is the worst that can happen and instead ask yourself, what is the best that can happen.”
NTAG Miami has 38 recruiting locations throughout South Florida, Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands, with the combined mission to recruit the highest caliber Sailors to meet the needs of the fleet.
Learn how a career in America’s Navy can help you reach your full potential. For more information, call 954-317-1614 or visit www.navy.com.
| Date Taken: | 10.23.2025 |
| Date Posted: | 10.23.2025 19:23 |
| Story ID: | 550339 |
| Location: | LAKE WORTH, FLORIDA, US |
| Hometown: | FORT LAUDERDALE, FLORIDA, US |
| Hometown: | MIAMI, FLORIDA, US |
| Hometown: | SYRACUSE, NEW YORK, US |
| Hometown: | WEST PALM BEACH, FLORIDA, US |
| Web Views: | 81 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
This work, In the Spotlight: LS1 Kimberly Nguyen Leads and Inspires, by PO1 Natalia Murillo, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
No keywords found.
