A 2002 Miami Killian High School graduate and Miami native is a part of a Navy team tasked to protect the skies over the U.S. Fifth Fleet area of operations.
Lt. Catherine Carlo is a dentist, which involves making sure sailors are dentally ready to fulfill their mission, according to Carlo.
“I’m a people person and like to interact with the people here. I get to hear their stories and I love it,” Lt. Carlo said. “I like building the rapport with my patients.”
Within this undisclosed location in the U.S. Fifth Fleet area of operations, sailors from all over the United States come together to form one unit, providing unparalleled support to multiservice personnel within the area of operations.
These sailors, soldiers, airmen and Marines work together to deter and counter disruptive countries, defeat violent extremism and strengthen security and stability throughout the region.
She is one of thousands of personnel forward deployed to the Middle East in the U.S. Navy’s Fifth Fleet. The Navy’s Fifth Fleet’s area of operation encompasses about 2.5 million square miles of water area and includes the Arabian Gulf, Gulf of Oman, Red Sea and parts of the
Indian Ocean. The expanse comprises 20 countries, including three critical choke points at the Strait of Hormuz, the Suez Canal and the Strait of Bab al Mandeb at the southern tip of Yemen.
Lt. Carlo is receiving firsthand experience working in a foreign country alongside coalition-focused forces who are executing the full spectrum of maritime operations with foreign counterparts, to keep the world safe from hostile forces.
“I’m the first dentist onboard, so I get to set up the dental clinic and shape it the way I think it should be. I’m setting the tone for whomever follows me,” Carlo said. “I love the camaraderie here.”
Carlo realizes the significance of serving her country abroad and is proud of the work she is doing in the Middle East, helping protect America halfway around the world.
“It gives me honor and pride being in the service. I am proudly continuing a family tradition of military service,” Carlo said.
