Master Chief Petty Officer Anthony Mazzulo, a native of Bay Village, Ohio, is one of the sailors ensuring the U.S. Navy maintains freedom from the ocean to the stars at Navy Meteorology and Oceanography Command (METOC).

Mazzulo currently serves as the command master chief of METOC, headquartered at the Stennis Space Center in Mississippi.

Mazzulo graduated from Bay Village High School in 1996.

Mazzulo joined the Navy 28 years ago.

“I always had the sense to serve,” said Mazzulo. “My mother's brother graduated from West Point Academy and served in the Army. I also had various cousins and uncles who have served in the military as well. I felt it was important to give back to my country, and I wasn't ready to go to college yet, so I joined the Navy because I wanted to travel and see the world and serve my country.”

The skills and values needed to succeed in the Navy are similar to those found in Bay Village.

“In Bay Village, the front door was never locked, and you had a sense of community and people looked out for each other,” said Mazzulo. “The morals I was raised with taught us to be good human beings and helped those that needed help. The other part that has stuck with me throughout the years was from my high school football coach, Tom Kaiser. He always told us, 'Team together and we achieve more.’ That mindset was team over self, and as a team, you can accomplish anything.”

According to Navy officials, sailors and civilians working throughout Naval Oceanography collect, measure, and analyze the elements of the physical environment (land, sea, air, space). They synthesize a vast array of oceanographic and meteorological data to produce forecasts and warnings in support of safety of flight and navigation.

With 90% of global commerce traveling by sea and access to the internet relying on the security of undersea fiber optic cables, Navy officials continue to emphasize that the prosperity of the United States is directly linked to recruiting and retaining talented people from across the rich fabric of America.

Mazzulo serves a Navy that operates far forward, around the world and around the clock, promoting the nation's prosperity and security.

“We will earn and reinforce the trust and confidence of the American people every day,” said Adm. Lisa Franchetti, chief of naval operations. “Together we will deliver the Navy the nation needs.”

Mazzulo has many opportunities to achieve accomplishments during military service.

“My proudest moment is every single time I see my sailors promote, qualify, and I see them win, those are the moments that never leave you,” said Mazzulo. “The moments that they share with you make those the greatest moments in my career every time one my sailors shares with me a life ‘win.’”

Mazzulo can take pride in serving America through military service.

“Serving in the Navy allows me to be a part of something bigger than myself,” said Mazzulo. "It allows me to work side-by-side with some of the greatest men and women of our country."

Mazzulo is grateful to others for helping make a Navy career possible.

“I was taking my Driver’s Education course and my driving instructor was a retired Coastguardsman,” said Mazzulo. "During those hours of practice driving, he woud tell me stories of his service and his time in the Coast Guard. Throughout those stories along with the songs of Jimmy Buffet, I was drawn to the ocean and life as a sailor." “My career has far exceeded any deed or notion that I had during my service in the Navy,” added Mazzulo.