Lt. Kimberly Rios, judge advocate, reconnected with her East Aurora High School Navy Junior Reserve Officers Training Corps (NJROTC) unit instructor, retired Chief Dental Technician Greg Fayfar. The reconnection occurred at her promotion to lieutenant at historic Building 1 onboard Naval Station Great Lakes, February 8, 2016.
Rios invited retired Chief Fayfar to her promotion ceremony to pin on her lieutenant bars. Meeting with retired Chief Fayfar again allowed Rios to reflect on how her NJROTC experience influenced her to become a member of the Navy Judge Advocate General’s Corps. She stated, “I look back and can remember Chief Fayfar’s pride in the Navy and his pride in his service. It was great. I literally felt his pride in the Navy and it was something I wanted to be part of. I wanted to have that same pride and wanted to have that same experience. His love for the Navy was so contagious it just stuck with me.”
Rios explained that her instructors’ Navy experiences and lessons in discipline, teamwork and dedication, during her two years with the NJROTC unit in Aurora, were some of the reasons she continually thought about the Navy and eventually chose to make it her career upon graduating from law school.
Lt. Cmdr. Matthew Wooten, staff judge advocate at Naval Service Training Command, Great Lakes, stated, “NJROTC motivates its cadets to choose a career in public service. NJROTC cultivated Lt. Rios’ desire to serve her community as an attorney and her country as a Sailor in the U.S. Navy. Moreover, NJROTC provides leadership skills that enable cadets to impact the organizations they serve. Lt. Rios’ keen ability to positively influence Sailors of all pay grades, from Seaman to Admiral, stems from her time in NJROTC.”
Retired Chief Fayfar explained that being invited to take part in Rios’ promotion was an unbelievable honor. He stated, “When she came into the unit, I knew she was something special. She volunteered to be a leader in a number of activities and events. She really excelled in whatever she took on.” Rios is attached to Region Legal Service Office Midwest and is the staff judge advocate to the commanding officer of Naval Station Great Lakes. She is a first tour judge advocate currently finishing her command services rotation. She will be rotating to Defense Service Office North.