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.OPHS graduategetshisCaptain'sEagleBy Randy Lefko,Correspondent

ORANGEPARK-- After nearly a yearof planning, the promotion to U.S. NavyCapt(iin of Orange Park High School gradu-ate Ariel C. Nagales filled Haut Hall at St.Catherine's Catholic Church as friends andfamjly celebrated the special day Satur-day. .

"When!. got notice .about a year ago,family members told me to save the date,Aug. 1, so that everyone in the family couldcelebrate with me," said Nagales, after theemotion-filled qeremony. "I was very proudto be able to share this day with my family,my father and mother, and, I think, about150 family friends that came from all overto join me. ". .

Nagales, who graduated Orange Park in1983, is currently a commander of a NavalSpecial Operations unit that has as itsduty to be ready to engage special warfareworldwide. .

"It is somewhat of a specialized unitand I have one group of personnel in thefield and one in training," said Nagales.

. Joining Nagaleswas a plethora of Navywhite-uniformed servicemen who have hadexperiences with Nagales as. he has pro-gressed in his years in the N-avy.Amongthem was Captain RodneyM.Urbano,com-mander of a patrol and reconnaissancewfng, who swore in Nag(iles for his pro-motion then joined Nagales' wife Rowenain placing the captain's eagle on Nagalesun.iformedshoulders:

"It is special that my parents were herealso," said Nagales, who's father Renato,was 24 years in the Navyas a master chiefstorekeeper, then served in the civiliansector for NADEP at NasJax. "My dad hasalways been my greatest influence to serv-

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. CORRESPONDENTPHOTOBY RANDYLEFKO

U.S,Navy.Capt.RodneyM.Urbano,left,helpsCaptArielC.Nagalesget his captain's eagle placedon his right shoulderas Nagales'wife, Rowena,placestheleftshouldereagleduringacelebrationofNagales'promotionceremony.

ingin the Navy."Nagales said he had two to three

months before his captain's orders wouldcome to him and that he was hoping for anas.signment in Jacksonville.

"I havebeendeployedworldwidefor along time mainly because of the type jobthat I have," said Nagales. "I am 'blessedto have a great family support system forassignments away from home."

Nagales is a Universityof Florida grad-uate, got a master's degree from LoyolaUniversity, a master of strategic studiesfrom the U.S. Army War College in 2005and also completed the Advanced JointProfessional Military Education at the U.S.Join't Forces' Staff College in 2008. He isat the Universityof North Florida currently'about to complete a Doctor of Educ'ationdegree.

After completing active duty in 1996,Nagales accepted a commissionin the U.S.Navy Reserve and later served, in 2004,for 24 months as part of the U.S. SpecialOperations Commandin support of Opera-tions Iraqi Freedom, Enduring Freedom,and NobleEagle.

Nagales has three children; Marcelina,Joshua and James-Matthew.