SAN DIEGO — Petty Officer 1st Class Isabella Torres, a native of Fishers, Indiana, is helping shape the next generation of naval surface warfighters while serving as an instructor at Mariner Skills Training Center, Pacific (MSTCPAC).
Torres, a 2021 graduate of Fishers High School, joined the Navy five years ago to explore new horizons and follow a tradition of military service inspired by her family.
“I joined the Navy to travel and to move out of Indiana,” Torres said. “I also kind of got the idea from my dad. He was a Marine, and he told me stories that kind of put the idea of service in my head.”
Grounded in Values and Leadership
Today, Torres serves as a quartermaster, applying lessons in discipline and responsibility that she learned growing up in central Indiana.
“Growing up, my parents taught me the importance of discipline and a good work ethic,” Torres said. “Being a first-class requires leadership skills and holding myself to a higher standard. On a ship, small things can cause big problems, but having discipline and a strong work ethic ensures things are done properly, and issues are avoided.”
Located in San Diego, MSTCPAC provides sailors with hands-on seamanship and navigation training designed to fulfill the Navy’s mission of maintaining global maritime superiority.
At MSTCPAC, surface warfare officers spend more than 800 hours training on state-of-the-art bridge simulators that replicate driving actual naval warships. The advanced technology allows sailors to navigate challenging, realistic at-sea scenarios, including high-density maritime traffic and complex navigational maneuvers. Instructors can also recreate past naval mishaps to provide critical, real-world learning opportunities.
Career Milestones and National Impact
During her five years of service, Torres has earned significant recognition within her command.
“I am most proud of winning Sailor of the Year for Commander, Amphibious Squadron 1 and obtaining my fire marshal qualification,” Torres said. “Winning Sailor of the Year represented all the people who mentored me and put me in a position to grow as a sailor. Earning my fire marshal qualification was also a big accomplishment because it is not exactly what my job does. It took a lot of time and studying to get that qualification, but it is really respected on the ship.”
Navy officials continue to emphasize that with 90 percent of global commerce traveling by sea and international internet communication relying on secure undersea fiber-optic cables, national prosperity is directly linked to recruiting and retaining talented service members from across the country.
“Being in the Navy means taking pride in serving your country,” Torres said, crediting her support system for her success. “I want to thank my mom and dad for raising me the way they did. They were strict, but they gave me the foundation I needed to work hard here in the Navy. I want to thank my mentors as well for being patient and having hard conversations with me to grow as a leader.”
Torres’ service comes as the U.S. Navy commemorates its historic role in national defense alongside the United States’ 250th anniversary of independence, marking more than two and a half centuries of defending freedom and protecting global prosperity.
