Fil-Am named commanding officer of US Navy aircraft carrier

MANILA, Philippines - Filipino sailors are looking forward to meeting Capt. Ronald Ravelo, who made history by being the first Filipino-American to be named commanding officer of a US Navy aircraft carrier.

Lt. Cdr. Marineth Domingo, acting spokesperson for the Philippine Navy, said they are proud of the achievements of Ravelo, who assumed as commander of USS Abraham Lincoln last Aug. 7.

“During exercises with the US, we meet a lot of servicemen. It will be a pleasure to meet him,” Domingo told The STAR yesterday.

“As Filipinos, we are proud that a Filipino-American was named the commander of such a large ship,” she added.

No joint activities involving the Philippine Navy and crew of the USS Abraham Lincoln have been scheduled so far.

Domingo, nevertheless, said an engagement with Ravelo would provide Filipino sailors an opportunity to learn from his experiences as a Navy officer.

“We can learn about his challenges and how he was able to prove himself. It really shows that Filipinos can excel in whatever duty given to them,” she said.

According to the US Navy website, Ravelo hails from San Diego, California and is a 1987 graduate of University of Southern California, where he earned his Bachelor of Science degree in Industrial and Systems Engineering.

A naval aviator, Ravelo served with the Chargers of HS-14 in all of his fleet aviation tours, eventually leading the squadron from 2005 to 2007.

During his stint with the Chargers, he joined various operations, including Operation Desert Storm during the Gulf War.