Rhonda Pekow

I joined the Marine Corps May 15, 1983 Basic Training in Parris Island, SC. This was followed by MOS school in Fort Lee, VA to become a Bulk Fuel Specialist. My first duty station was 9th Engineer Support Battalion in Camp Hansen, Okinawa, Japan; 10/1983 – 10/1984. The next 3 years were spent in Camp Pendleton in 7th Engineer Battalion, 2nd Bulk Fuel Company. I was honorably discharged from active duty in June 1987 as a Corporal.

In January 1989, I joined MALS-49 in Newburgh, NY, which required changing my MOS to 0431, Logistics/Embarkation. I transferred back and forth between MALS-49 and VMGR-452 (both in Newburgh, NY) supporting both units in logistics through many deployments for the next 12 years.

In 2001 (immediately prior to 9/11), I transferred to 6th Communication Battalion in Brooklyn, NY as an 0491, Logistics Chief. I deployed with 6th Comm in January 2003 for Iraqi Freedom to Camp Commando in Kuwait. After returning to the US, I retired from the Marine Corps as a Gunnery Sergeant, in January 2004.

In the civilian world, I work as an Assistant Principal, responsible for the Math, Science, and Engineering department, at A Philip Randolph High School in Harlem, NY. I am on the executive board of NYC’s Council of Supervisor and Administrators (CSA), serve on CSA’s Veterans Council, and am a past president of the Association of Mathematics Assistant Principals Supervision NYC (AMAPS).

I joined the Gooney Bird Marine Corps League Detachment in 2019, and now serve as Senior Vice Commandant. I am also an active member of the Women Marine Association (WMA), since 2018.