NEW CUMBERLAND, Pa. –
Navy Capt. Phoebe Tamayo took command during a ceremony held at Defense Logistics Agency Distribution San Diego, California, as all present bid fair winds and following seas to Navy Capt. Cielo Almanza, who relinquished command and retired after 27 years of service.
Navy Rear Adm. Michael A. York, commander, DLA Distribution, presided over the change of command ceremony while Navy Rear Adm. Dion D. English, Director, Logistics Division, N4L, Office of the Chief of Naval Operations, presided over the retirement ceremony.
“The team at DLA Distribution San Diego constantly strived to improve every day,” Almanza said. “These dedicated individuals show the Navy, and the armed forces as a whole, are in the best and most capable hands possible.”
Almanza oversaw the daily operations of the distribution center that supported multiple Navy ships that call San Diego, California, their home port. His command also supported multiple shore-based commands across all branches of service in support of the warfighter.
During his tenure, he implemented a storage and accountability initiative that reduced costs by $30 million. Almanza also oversaw the inventory maintenance of items valued at more than $6.8 billion at two different sites and across 98 acres of property.
The impact of Almanza’s command increased warfighter readiness across the Indo-Pacific command region, ensuring the continued safety and security across the region.
The ceremony concluded with the Almanza’s retirement following 27 years of exceptional service to the U.S. Navy.
He is relieved by Tamayo who was previously assigned as the Chief of Staff for the Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Navy for Sustainment.
About Capt. Tamayo
Tamayo was commissioned through Officer Candidate School in Pensacola, Florida, and holds a Master of Science Degree in Business Organizational Management with a concentration in Human Resource Management from the University of La Verne.
Tamayo has served in various key leadership positions afloat and ashore. Her initial assignment was the Disbursing Officer and Sales Officer on USS Oak Hill stationed in Little Creek, Virginia, from 1999 to 2001. She then served as the Supply Department Head at Naval Air Systems Command, Point Mugu, California, from 2001 to 2004, and earned her master’s degree in business organizational management. Upon graduation she was assigned to Navy Cargo Handling Battalion FOURTEEN as the Officer in Charge at Port Hueneme, California, from 2004 to 2006. She was then assigned to her Department Head tour on USS Benfold (DDG 65) from 2006 to 2008 and deployed in support of Operation Enduring Freedom and earned the Logistics Management Excellence award, the Battle Efficiency award, and the Pacific Fleet Ship Store Excellence award.
Following her Department Head tour, she was assigned to Commander, Naval Surface Force, U.S. Pacific Fleet, as the Supply Readiness Officer at Cruiser Class Squadron and 1B1B Program Manager for U.S. Pacific Fleet guided-missile cruisers, guided-missile destroyers, and guided-missile frigates from 2008 to 2011. Upon completion of her tour, she returned to sea duty as the Assistant Supply Officer on USS Makin Island, the first hybrid-drive warship, and completed her maiden deployment to the Middle East in support of Operation Enduring Freedom from 2011 to 2013. During this tour, she earned the Battle Efficiency award and won the Fiscal Year 2011 Food Service Captain Edward F. Ney award.
Tamayo was assigned to Naval Supply Systems Command, Global Logistics Support, as the Future Operations Officer and the Deputy Director for Logistics Programs from 2013 to 2016. She was assigned a follow-on tour at Naval Air Systems Command Patuxent River, Maryland, as the Deputy Business Financial Manager for the Unmanned Carrier Aviation Program Office under Program Executive Office, Unmanned Aviation and Strake Weapons, and the Lead Business Financial Manager for the Common Standards Interoperability Program Office from 2016 to 2018.
She then returned to sea duty and served as the Supply Officer on USS Boxer from 2018 to 2020. Under her leadership, her Food Service Division won the Fiscal Year 2019 Food Service Captain Edward F. Ney award, Logistics Management Excellence award, the Pacific Fleet “Best of Class” Ship’s Store Sales and Service Excellence award, and the Battle Efficiency award.
Tamayo then served as the Deputy Branch Head for the Strategic Integration Branch, at the Pentagon, and as the Program Objective Memorandum integrator within Office of the Chief of Naval Operations, Logistics, from 2020 to 2023.
Captain Tamayo’s awards include a Legion of Merit, Meritorious Service Medal, three awards; Navy Commendation Medal, six awards; Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal, two awards; and other various personal, unit and campaign awards. She is a qualified Surface Warfare Supply Corps Officer, Naval Aviation Supply Officer, and Acquisition Professional Member.