Frankie Segarra - Master Gunnery Sergeant

Master Gunnery Sergeant

MGySgt Segarra, a veteran of Operation Desert Shield and Desert Storm, is the first Hispanic and for that matter the first Puerto Rican Master Gunnery Sergeant acting as paraloft chief, Landing Support Company, Combat Logistics Regiment 3, 3rd Marine Logistics Group in Camp Smedley D. Butler located in Okinawa, Japan.

Master Gunnery Sergeant and the rank of Sergeant Major are the highest enlisted ranks in the Marine Corps; however, there are far fewer Master Gunnery Sergeants than Sergeants Major.

Other notable Hispanics with the pay grade of E-9 include:

• The Sergeant Major of the Marine Corps John L. Estrada, who on June 27, 2003 became the first Hispanic promoted to that rank, and

• MGySgt Abigail D. Olmos, who on August 13, 2004 became the first female Master Gunnery Sergeant in the history of the Marine Corps.

• Sergeant Major Jose Luis Santiago, who has the distinction of being the 2nd Battalion 9th Marines first Hispanic Sergeant Major and its first Sergeant Major since its reactivation on July 13, 2007.